Homegrown Hospitality

Flowers Grow From...

seeds and I know that I mentioned I would not quote the book "The Seed" anymore, but I made some paper flowers using "the markers" and attached them to a big manila tag and, well, wrote out a quote from the book on the tag and I just knew that if I showed you the flowers, you would probably want to know what was written around them, so I decided I would just tell you up front that I quoted the book again. (wow that was a lot of information in one sentence)

The quote reads "During the growth process you will experience events that help you soar to new heights but you will also face adversity and challenges that strengthen your roots." The Seed Page 101

I love the "soaring to new heights" part of the quote. The thing is, in order to "soar" we must sometimes feel sore.

DANG IT!

Growing pains and suffering are neccessary to strengthen our roots and we must endure the pain, the hardships, the troubles and the difficulties.  

"Don't quit in the hard times, pray all the harder." Romans 12:12

It is just hard when we are in those times to remember that there is a reason and a greater purpose for our pain but expect blessings.  They will come and then we can share with others what it feels like "To Soar"

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" Romans 5:3-4

It's a promise.

Out of My Hands

I had about 7 minutes.

I was in between a big airplane and a small one.  

Going from two pilots, a full crew and complimentary drinks twice in the flight to Snoopy flying a plane, one crew member and an aisle between seats that was to narrow to have a service cart go up and down when I got the call...

and another and another and another..and then a text, and another..and another.

I started to feel my knees buckle and for a brief 100th of a second thought "turn around and go home" even though it was a very minor "issue"..very minor.   For a twelve year old that doesn't like when his momma goes away from home, the minor issue probably seemed HUGE and because when I was twelve and I did not like when my momma went away, I knew what he was feeling.

DEEP BREATH...

Outside the window, Snoopy was up on a ladder starting to spin the propellers on the plane to get the engine started when the call came over the intercom bullhorn that it was time to board....

Me being me, being a mom that is now across the country from home, has a phone vibrating in her pocket and is watching snoopy wipe the dew off of the plane window that is the size of a small fish aquarium, I had to pull up my boot straps, take a deep breath, walk out onto the runway to climb that ladder to get to the plane and just get to my seat all-the-while trying to ignore the buzzing of the vibrating phone...shoot..I needed to turn off my phone so snoopy could fly the damn plane (sorry for the language).

I got to my seat, buckled in, shut my eyes and prayed it away.

PRAYED THROUGH IT and GAVE IT AWAY.

Moral and lesson of the story = There was nothing I could do, but exactly what I did which was all I could do.

Let it go and let GOD have it.  It was out of my hands..and into His, like a hot potato.

whew.

Little did I know that the above story would be exactly what I needed to go through to be able to turn it into art for the prompt that Courtney was going to send me..

Always know that something you are going through is for a reason. You have to "Go through it to grow though it", challenges lead to growth whether you are 12 or 40 something, and as the book "The Seed" quotes on page 98:

Give it to God...HE can handle it...and get going on what you are supposed to be doing.

Right Now.

Before I starting this post this morning or even knew what I was going to write about, I read Mel's newest blog post (and I suggest that after you are done here, you hightail it over there to be lulled by her amazing writing....) then I opened up "The Seed" to this highligted excerpt (remember, I told you I highlighted most of the book...) and knew what I was going to write about.

Don't miss what is all around you right now....because of the muck, the mess and the fear. Please open your eyes...

It was dark when I arrived in PA on Thursday night and this is the first thing I saw Friday morning as opened the curtains from my room in Pennsylvania.

Maybe you will understand it, or maybe you won't...but it made me gasp, I think my heart skipped a beat..and I KNEW I was right where I was supposed to be and had I buckled in fear, I would have missed this sight.  The dark sky, the bright barn, the rusted roof....the green life all around....Do not miss the life all around you right now.

A Rewards Program

A little reminder...

Amazing things come in all shapes and sizes...

sometimes as simple as rocks in the shape of hearts when I feel like my physical heart is working overtime and questioning my body "Um...why, what in the world and where are we going???"

sometimes in the form of a clothesline of long-johns, handkerchiefs and socks when my spiritual heart starts to beat with calmness and peace because of the visions of beautiful green country roads that are pulsing with life, abundance and simplicity

and sometimes at the moment the falling sun meets the rising moon, when you not only feel but are the farthest away from home, but you feel like you are exactly right where you are supposed to be....

The rewards are amazing and are availble to you right now.

It is simple, no written application necessary and no little card to attach to your keychain...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" Matthew 7:7 NIV

True Happiness

A few days ago BEFORE I started painting, I doodled a little doodle in my tiny doodle book (say that 5 times fast!) but left it as is because I was not sure what I want to add to it, if anything.

Then during a little break of peace & quiet last night after an extreme carpool/practice/work/laundry day, I finally picked up my February issue of Oprah Magazine.  It has a ton a great articles about being creative and as I  read a quote from Martha Beck (page41) I knew exactly where to write it...

Although at times our little ordinary life is hectic,wild, mildly complicated, it is also wonderful, fun, crazy and exciting..and I LOVE it...even when I don't.  It is all the way you look at it...so if you don't love it, you might need to tweak your focus a little (or put on your glasses, if you can find them) because you do not want to miss the beautiful moments.

Unique Contribution

Today I am sharing a new doodle with you that I am sending to all of the Scrapbook LIFE Journal 2012 class participants. It was inspired by a sentence in the book, "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. This month we are focussing and learning about Talents, Abilities and Creativity and here is my shameless plug..."read more about the class here"

Something that I think we all forget and need reminding of  is that we were each individually handmade which means we are unique...

and when we use our "unique" as a tool to better this place...it makes a difference. 

What is a LapDoodle?

Not to get confused with "gourmet" dog breeds, this is a "lapdoodle" which simply means I doodled' it on my lap during soccer practice yesterday.

good quote...and so true...dang it!

 

To Change Your Life...

...you need to change your thinking.

The #1 barrier to change is PRIDE so you (and I) need to take the first step to break the barrier by simply stop pretending that we have it all together and start admitting that we don't..so that we can!

When we do it, others will be influenced and inspired to do the same...

Duh..and Yay!

Here is what I am reminding myself :

 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Soul Care

I started reading a new book on Ministry & Leadership and just in the first few pages, I have highlighted more than I might want to admit.  I am quickly being reminded of things that I already knew, just forgot to remember.  Good stuff, not just for ministry and leadership..but for life.

As I continue to read, be reminded and learn, I will share with you..lucky you!

Don't Strain Your Eyes

When it is dark,

When you can not seem to focus,

When things never seem to change,

When you feel like there is a dark cloud floating over you,

When you keep looking for a sign.. for a change... for just a glimmer of something..

Don't strain your eyes.

 

 

Remember, just because you can not see it or feel it, there is HOPE and a future because HE is there, He said it and it is a promise.

It's called Faith.

Yay!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29: 11-13