Dirty Joy

I played in the dirt today.  Planted six peonies.  Fifteen dahlias.  Fifty.....and more....giant sunflowers.  Unknown amount of columbines.  Pumpkins.  Squash.  Morning glories.  I weed eated.  I watered.  I pulled grass.  And weeds.  I turned soil.
It's dirty joy.  I had a near garden under my nails.  The seat of my jeans looked like I had been sliding along my bum.  Dirt was in my nose.  My feet were stained.
And there was joy.  Because gardening always reminds me of really simple things.  Today it was how simply pulling weeds does not get rid of them.  You have to plant something in place of them.  And the places where the good plants are thriving and healthy prohibit weed growth best of all.  The barren soil is prime for weeds to begin and flourish.  So, for every area that I was taking out grass and weeds, I was busily putting in something good and healthy for the garden.
I need to be sure to do the same in my life.  In my thoughts.  In my habits.  It doesn't work to just get rid of the "bad".  It has to be replaced by something good.  Otherwise, it is likely that some other bad thing will fill the void.
Gardening...it's my dirty joy.
blessings.

gloomy day

The weather outside is cloudy AND raining. I absolutely adore rain.  I find rainy days very calming and comforting. And smiles on rainy days....they seem to shine especially bright.   I think that something I like is that everyone seems to kind of relax. Settle down.  Settle in.  It's calming.  Which can make people sleepy.  But it can also give the inspiration to stay indoors and do those projects that have been on your mind.  
Gloomy is all a matter of perspective.  You can notice the rain and the clouds.  Or you can notice the feeling, the peacefulness, the blessing of humidity, the joy of everyone gathered around.
Most time of life are like that.  And you have to choose. Do you dwell in the gloomy?  Or, do you look for the blessing?
In every moment of gloomy, there is an amazing blessing hiding.  Make sure you uncover it....and then....pass it along. With a smile.
blessings.

all things are possible.....

my friend made this sign.

it's in my garden.

i think she knew that

i needed to believe again.

and look at all of the beauty

sprouting up.

it's....amazing.

believing.

in the god.

with whom

ALL things.

are possible.

it's a gift.

blessings.

not invisible. precious in His sight.

never overlooked.

never not enough.

never without value.

never invisible.

here.

precious.

in his sight.

always.

no matter what.

blessings.

Goodness Gracious

It is good to be gracious.  To give and be kind.  To have compassion.  To others.  To yourself.
I have been thinking much lately of a young person that I love very much.  Life has not gone as I would wish for this person.  As a matter of fact, the choices being made are painful to watch.  But I have changed through the years.  It's not painful to me because I am disappointed nor superior.  It is painful to me because the choices are taking the person away from those who love.  Who care.  The draw to those who use and take advantage is incomprehensible.  Self punishment.  Rebellion.  Defiance.  Proving.  It doesn't matter why.  Well, actually, that's all that matters.  The lifestyle, the outward stuff...all just symptoms of pain and something inside.
But everyone gets to choose.  To live.  To do what helps.  Or hurts.  To give.  Or take.  To thrive.  Or stagnate. And what I've learned is that my love has not been diminished by the choices.  And I wish that I could say how I get it.  How I see.  How no matter what choices are made, that the person is valuable.  A treasure.  Loved.  Beloved.  And someday I will get that chance.
Goodness.  Graciousness.  A gift to be given.  To others.  To ourselves.
blessings.

Believer

I am a true believer.  I am one who absolutely believes that things can come true.  I believe because of who I am.  Who I was created to be.  I believe because of what I have seen in my lifetime.  No desire is too big.  No hope out of reach.  Not if it's REAL.  Not from someone else.  But yours.  In the very depths of your heart.  Because God made us like Him.  With vision.  And, the Bible says that a people without a vision perish.  We are CREATED to hope.  To believe.  To see what isn't yet.  To be creators within our lives.
I believe deeply.  For myself.  For others.  I see the potential when others only see the impossibility.  I am not naive.  Well, on some fronts, maybe....but, I know how hard and how painful and how unlikely things can seem.  But I believe in pushing for what is huge and wonderful and would take a miracle to achieve.  Because......I believe in miracles.  In things that can't be explained away.  That happen when they shouldn't.
I believe that living involves more than simply showing up and falling into a rut.  That's existing.  Living is looking inward and finding that unique piece inside and doing everything in the world to let it shine.  To give that unique piece of yourself to the world.
I am a believer in getting back up.  Some people say things are impossible.  And they are.  If you stay down when you fall.  If you give up when you get hurt.  If you think that a challenge means the end.  If you forget that playing is part of the work.  If you lose sight of how to laugh.
I believe that failure is impossible for people who live fully and full out.  Not because they will achieve all of their goals, but because while pursuing their GOALS, they will totally achieve their PURPOSE.   
I believe that each person has a purpose.  Their very own.  To help.  To grow.  To test.  To love.  To challenge.  Whatever it is, the world is not complete without it.
I believe that too many people are trying to fit into too many other peoples clothes....and they look stupid.  Because they were meant for their own outfits, own style.  They spend an entire lifetime not living their own lives but trying to fit their desires into other peoples plans, goals, desires, hopes.
I believe that YOU have a unique, personal and very important purpose on this earth.  And I believe that you may never even find out what it was.  However, I also believe that if you live your life pursuing good and doing that which brings you absolute joy......then it will be accomplished.  Even if you never saw what it was.
We are so destination oriented as a culture that we have forgotten the beauty and necessity of the journey.  Our journey IS our story.  It is the only legacy that we leave.
blessings.

Newness

I am thankful for the ability to be made new.  I know, it sounds like simply a spiritual thing.  And, it is that too.  But, I found that I was becoming a woman that I didn't admire.  That I had allowed myself to be influenced and shaped by things that I shouldn't have.  I found that I didn't admire the woman that I was allowing to grow....so, I had to make new decisions.  I had to look at who I used to be.  Look at who I want to be.  See who I was created to be.  Because, I was not made to be a facade.  I was not made to make everyone happy.  I was made to bring glory to the Father.  But, the only way that can be done is to be the woman He created.  The one He loves without reserve.  It's easy to get sidetracked.  It's so tempting to think that making others comfortable and happy is always the way to go.  But, in this newness, I am learning that He has an ability to make things right and good for ALL of us at the same time.  And that doing and being who I am supposed to be is the way that I bring Him glory.  The way that I ultimately praise and thank Him for my life.
I am walking in newness.  Not just inside....all of me.  Each and every day.  Made for a purpose.  Created with care.  Not to be taken forgranted.  To be nurtured.  Treasured.  If I don't....nobody else will either.  I am learning.  It's all kinds of newness.
blessings.