Persistent Faith

       I find nature's ability to keep on keeping on despite setbacks rather amazing. For example, weeds are incredibly persistent. I recently re-mulched the landscaped area in my front yard and already, there are weeds pushing their way through. We mow down the grass and it comes back, we weed our gardens and turn around to see that they need it again. Usually, we look at this as a negative thing, but I was thinking about it the other day and realized that that is exactly how I want my faith to be, persistent.
      The enemy of our souls wants to destroy our faith, and he's pretty good at knowing our buttons. There are many different things that weed whack our faith, perhaps, it's fear or doubt, exhaustion, skepticism, anger, laziness, you name it, if it will weaken our faith, he will try it. But The One who calls our names, who desires to know our hearts, and gives us grace daily, wants to grow in us a persistent faith. Faith that gets back up when it's knocked down. Faith that says no to fear and pushes through when things seem foggy and disorienting. Faith that keeps seeking hope when all seems lost. Faith that won't give up. This is what I want. And so, I continue on the journey of growing in grace. 
     And now, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the wind is dancing, and the birds and crickets are making happy sounds.  Oh, and this weekend is the 7 year anniversary of when My Love asked me to be his wife. I'm sure glad he did.

My intrepid adventurer. 

Sweet violets

Planting rhubarb. 

Keeping an eye on the water spigot while Mama waters the plants. Puddle time!

Blooms!

Engaged and happy about it. 2011

Happy Friday my friends. May your faith be persistent!

Sunshine and Blue Skies

Yesterday I posted about Luke sawing a couple giant logs up into lumber for our siding project. However, I realized I failed to put up the picture of the finished product. So here you go, Luke and his lumber(not quite all of it, it took two trips to get it from the Farm to our place.)

The weather has been blissful and glorious today. This morning, Buirlen and I went out to get the mail and he promptly decided that he didn't want to go back in. So, we spent some time cleaning up flower beds and soaking up some vitamin D.

He's a pretty hard working little gardener. 

Yesterday's adventures in the great outdoors....Sunshine is good for the soul. 

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." ~Margaret Atwood

A Little Adventure

    This past weekend Luke loaded up the bobcat and took it to his sister Abbi's house to help them out with some dirt work as they prepared to landscape. Buirlen and I went for moral support. The weather was sheer delight.

Learning all about the bobcat!

Moving rocks.

Me and my little kangaroo.

The Lovely Keren Ruth just so happens to live a half a mile down the road from Abbi. So Buirlen and I walked over for a little visit while the boys worked.

Mr. Ephraim helping his mamma do the laundry.

It is so sweet to watch Ephraim with his cousin, he really loves him. I am excited to watch their friendship grow and develop. 

Chilling with cousin Mara. This little boy is so loved and he hasn't even met all the people who love him yet!

Abbi was planting some raspberries. 

Sunday after Church we had lunch at the Williams' farm. Buirlen and Brody got some socializing in.

This little boy continues to fill my heart. Life is good!

"Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life."

~Omar Khayyam 

Walking on Sunshine

     It's Friday and it has been one of those happy, sunshine in your soul, kind of days. The temperature was in the 70's, there was a warm breeze, and the sun was out in all its glory. Buirlen and I had kind of a slow start to our day but once we got going, we filled it to the brim with goodness. A walk in the sunshine by the sparkling lake, lunch with Grandpa, Grandma, Keren and cousins, and coffee with a good friend from work.

Sometimes it's just hard to get yourself going in the morning. Today was just such a day. 

Walking on sunshine!

Cousins that just happened to coordinate.

He likes to sit upright and observe the world. 

     At the beginning of the year, I decided that I needed to make some changes to my perspective. I needed to shake up my faith and start living a life that was not dictated by fear. It is certainly still a challenge for me, but I feel like I am making progress in the right direction. I still struggle with fear, but in some ways I feel like its grip on me is not quite as strong. I feel like I can rest in peace more easily these days. I desire to see this progress continue to move forward. I am so ready to live in the complete freedom that Jesus Christ has given me and you. Freedom to walk in the sunshine of life knowing that The One who created your soul wants to walk with you. 

    So as we head into the weekend, I hope that your heart is full to the brim with sunshine. I hope that you seek truth and stand firmly in it and that the joy of Jesus overwhelms you in a wonderful way. Happy Friday!

Here is a happy little song for your weekend. 

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Lessons of the Lawn Mower

       Mowing the lawn should be considered as an Olympic sport and an education all rolled in one. Let me explain. Today, Luke continued on with the roof and I decided to tackle the overgrown lawn. I was reminded as I worked that a riding lawn mower and a weeping willow tree--really any low hanging tree for that matter--make for a problem solving situation for sure. Some might simply leave the sneaky grass under the low hanging tree, others might save it for the weed whip, but not I. I'm stubborn. And this is where the Olympic sport aspect comes in.
        The further under you go, the branches start wacking at you and trying to keep you from moving farther. So, you have two options: Lean as far forward as possible or lean as far back. I tried both. I did manage to achieve a nice scratch up my arm and my neatly bunned hair was a little worse for the wear afterwards, but I won. Then there is the competition where you see how close you can get to the propane tank without getting stuck...I got stuck. And then there is the matter of the tricky incline of the ditch, but like I said, I'm stubborn. I won.
      It used to be that in figure skating, they judged you by the designs you swirled into the ice. Well, that sport could easily be converted to lawn mowing. What kinds of crazy, crooked lines and designs can you create as you drive along.
       As far as the educational aspect of mowing the lawn there are many lessons learned. You are transported back in time to the days of the Dust Bowl every time you go over one of the many gopher mounds, sending swirls of dust everywhere. You also learn that those same gopher mounds like to bog you down, so you hit the gas and shoot over them faster. And then sometimes you learn that no amount of forward or reverse is going to get you unstuck and you simply must get off and push. So many lessons!
       This evening, Luke and I finished the day with both of us up on the roof getting soaked by the rain as we worked to staple down the tar paper. Luke certainly has his work cut out for him with this crazy roof line. Adventures. Happy Monday!

"Truth is a deep happiness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with people the same happiness." ~Khalil Gibran 

Rooftop Adventures

     This afternoon, I hung out on the roof while My Love worked on the latest home improvement project. Soon our old patched shingles will be replaced with a beautiful blue steel. The sun was shining, the birds and crickets were singing and it was just a lovely specimen of a day.
     The last time Luke and I hung out on the roof together was before we bought our home, about a year and a half ago. The bank had given us a list of things that needed fixing with the house before they would sign off on the loan. The ladies who sold us the house were kind enough to let us come in and do the work. I don't know how often that sort of arrangement happens in the world of real estate, but it was a true blessing. And so here we are once again, on the roof. Adventures!

     I was reminded this morning that 5 years ago this weekend, My Love and I were sitting by the crick at my parents place when he pulled a ring out of his pocket and asked me to be his wife. I am so very blessed. (Engagement photo credits to The Lovely Keren Ruth)

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

HAPPY SPRING!!!

     Today is the first day of Spring. The sun was bright and beautiful. Yesterday I did some spring preparation by getting some seeds going for my garden. I can't wait till I can go out in the sunshine, dig my toes in the dirt and enjoy watching things grow! Happy SPRING!

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden."
 ~Ruth Stout

Those Days We End Up In the Ditch

     It is once again bitterly cold outside. But the sun is so very bright and the snow is so very white. I was driving home this morning and was thinking about how the vast white backdrop brings out the intensity of the other colors. The blue of the sky, the yellows, greens, and reds of the road signs, the green of the pines, and the deep red of the barn. Colors that are brought to the forefront and put on display against the white backdrop of wintery glory.
      It was while I was thinking these thoughts that I turned the last curve on the road before reaching home and promptly slid right into the ditch. I like to think I did it gracefully. So, there I was stuck in the snow a 1/4 of a mile from home. I was about to call Luke when a pick up pulled up and stopped. He asked if someone was coming and I said that I was going to call my husband but that he was at work. So, without skipping a beat he started digging around in his truck for a strap and chain. While he was doing this, I called Luke and explained where I was and what was going on. When I hung up the guy looked at me and asked if I was Luke's wife(I hadn't mentioned Luke's name). Turns out he was a contractor Luke often works with and he actually is building a home on our road. In no time at all he had me pulled out and I was back on my way. The whole situation put a smile on my face. The kindness of a stranger to stop and help and the coincidence of him not really being a stranger.
     We are known by the One who puts the colors in the world. Did you know that. When we find ourselves sliding into the ditches that are the problems and worries of this life, The Creator of life comes along, pulls us out, and calls us by name. He knows us and He knows the cry of our hearts. And even if you don't know Him, He knows you and He loves you.
     So that's my story and I'm sticking with it. Also, I like to believe that my Heavenly Father knew I was going to end up in that ditch this morning and sent a friend at the very right moment. God's cool like that.
      And then there is this little guy, Mr. Ephraim.

I went to visit this afternoon, it was lovely.

“Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.” ~Kevin Heath

Smile

      The past few days have been simply delicious. There really is no other way to describe them. The sun has been shining and the breeze has been warm on my face and I've had a lot of reasons to smile. For example, I smiled when I walked on a frozen lake in 70 degree weather in March. I smiled, when a friend of mine and I tried our hand at metal working...We made more noise than anything, but it was fun. I smile when I hear the kids playing outside as the breeze floats in through my open windows. I smile when the love of my life gives me a hug and kisses my forehead. I smile because I get to walk home from school everyday in this beautiful sunshine. I smile because my life is full of people that are there for me. I smile because I can smell Spring in the air. I smile because it feels so much better than a frown. And I smile because, regardless of how I may feel at times and regardless of what fear may try to tell me, I am loved by the One who gave me this life. And you know what is really amazing, the One who has given us these days looks at us and smiles, because we are His. So today, look for something to smile about. You might just be surprised at what you find.

"A laugh is a smile that bursts."  ~Mary H. Waldrip


"I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful."  ~Author Unknown