Gate 11

We had absolutely wonderful services yesterday morning at church.  You can just tell when the Spirit is moving.  The songs were wonderful and heartfelt, the message was inspired, and it was so good to be with "family".  Plus, I had both my boys and my DIL there with me, too.

For several years, our congregation has been planning on building a multi-purpose, youth oriented building for our growing church.  Yesterday was the big kick-off - they're about to begin this process.  Our church has had good financial planners for building projects and improvements and staying out of debt.  But more importantly, when there has been a need, our members always come through with the funds to take care of those needs.  You may find this in your congregation, too, but our members have, through the years, been so blessed through faith that God will provide.  He always has, too. 

Sometimes, it seems that monetary blessings have come almost miraculously from out of nowhere, and some may say, "what a coincidence!"  But if you are a believing Christian, you know that there are NO coincidences when one is praying in faith - there are answers - sometimes a yes, sometimes a no, sometimes a wait and sometimes - a better way!  For we cannot out-give the Lord, and when we ask according to His divine will and believe that He will guide us, then we can step back and wait and see what the Lord can do through His people.  I've seen this countless times, and it's happened in my own life over and over.  Not just about material things, but about all kinds of life problems that arise, illness, children, job loss, YOU NAME IT.  Even when we felt God was telling us NO about something, He planned a better way and gave us the strength to go through it.  I have lived long enough now and been through enough of "life" to see the hand of God in my life and in the lives of those around me.   Sometimes it's while you're going through it, sometimes it's looking back and seeing where you've been and how you've come through.  A wonderful faith builder for the next time...

For a moment, I'll comment on our building fund because it's fresh on my mind.  Tony and I have been Christians and members of the Lord's church for almost 30 years.  We've seen many special needs and building funds come our way.  We've not always known where the funds that we felt led to give were going to come from.  But God has always come through for us - either Tony would get a bonus (which were few and far between) or we'd get a refund check, maybe something unexpected from the IRS.  The money has always been there.  When it would appear out of the blue, we'd look at each other almost in disbelief and smile and know together that God provided.

Mustard seeds, people.  Eph. 3:20  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us".....  We can't even begin to imagine all that the Lord can do through us His people!  Do we limit God because of our own short-sightedness and lack of faith?  I daresay we do!

Well, I didn't really mean to wax so long on giving, but my heart and mind were so full from yesterday's services, just had to go off on that tangent for a bit...

GATE 11.  Ok, if you've studied Revelation you might remember in Ch. 21, it talks about the 12 gates of heaven and goes on to name them and describe them.  I guess when we actually get to heaven, we'll find out exactly all about these gates.  Some say Revelation is prophecy and some believe it literally.  I believe that the Word is God-inspired and written for our instruction and to show us the way of Life.  So, I'm not here to really argue about Revelations.

Our message conclusion yesterday morning was this -- you've always heard that one needs to have a family plan in case of an emergency, maybe to have a specific location to meet up.  Our minister said yesterday  that if he got to heaven before his loved ones and family at our church that he'd be waiting at Gate 11.  He said he'd wait there just inside the gate 10,000 years or so before he goes on into the city of gold - since time doesn't matter in heaven!  I loved that!  It will be so good to see those who've gone on before us and to welcome those that come behind.  I think me and my family are going to meet at Gate 11, too.  I hope that you, too, have a plan.

Will I see you there?

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What's Going On ...

Good morning, my friends out there!  Sorry I've been so busy this week.  Big son, Adam from Nashville, is home for a week or so.  He hasn't been home since the end of April and I have SURELY missed him!  I think he's getting a bit tired of me huggin' on him, but too bad!  Sunday was his birthday and we had 4 of us together minus the girl child in nursing school.  We had cake and we got him a nice gift that he'd been wanting for a long time.  We had grilled hamburgers and all the trimmings and enjoyed ourselves immensely!

Ever CAN'T find a good box for a present???

Enter Ch*rrios box - family size!  Works great!  AND I wrapped it in Sponge B*b Square P*nts paper!

Since I have my guys here this week, some long-needed projects that need man muscles and know-how were scheduled to be completed at Mom's request.  I've been wanting running water out to the  garden shed for a couple of years now - much easier to water that side of the garden AND water any chickens or livestock in the future.  It will eventually run out to the tractor barn which is another 100 yards or so but for now at least I won't be dragging 200 feet of garden hose around to water.  That sucker gets heavy!

A trench was dug out to the garden shed from the tap in the back yard and PVC pipe was laid.  Also, they ran the line up directly to the garden shed  porch and put a spigot there so I can have my old washtub right under it and wash veggies.  The drain run-off will have a short hose attached to direct it back to the garden or a small flower bed beside the garden shed. Fabulous!

Covering up the ditch with our trusty steed...

We were also needing a larger compost container. We had a little makeshift one for a couple of years but it was coming apart and we  noticed that some little varmints were getting in there and strewing some of the ingredients around outside.  My guys built this much nicer, much stronger, and much bigger compost container.  One side of it comes completely off - they fixed it where it would slide out the top somehow and we can get the tractor bucket in there to pick up loads of compost to put in the garden.  Ingenius!  Don't you think?  It's about 4'x8' in size and about 3.5' to 4' high on the sides.  I'm wondering if we need to put a top on it?  Doesn't it break down quicker? I think I read that somewhere - will have to do some checking on that...

My husband at first thought it was kind of unnecessary to have a compost bin, but after he saw how cool it was to have all that luscious broken-down good stuff to put in the garden, he really got into it.  He's always out there turning it and "going out to check on the compost", he says.  He's totally with the program now!

Now I'll have to really stay on top of collecting things from the kitchen, etc., to put in the compost. I sometimes forget and toss something in the trash or think it's something too small to worry about, but I'll be more watchful now.  I wanna have lotsa good compost to put in the garden next year. Oh, it's not big enough to do the whole garden area, but it'll sure help.  I'm thinking of adding a few raised garden beds next year and see if I like them as opposed to rows of continuous crops like I've been doing.  Cuts out a lot of weeds and easier to water and walk around.  We'll see...

Well, that's all I've got today.  We've got big plans all week long.  There's always so much to cram into the time that we have with our kids when they come home.  Fishing, shooting, cooking out on the grill, family get-togethers, golf for the sons --- speaking of,  I just LOVE when both my sons are here and they "hang out" and do "guy stuff" and all the male bonding.  My husband is with them as much as possible, but I love to see my two sons are spending precious time just with each other.  All of us who're moms and dads love that I'm sure!  I'm off to take some pics of my boys shooting! 

Keep your dress down!

Stuff

Hey guess what???

IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW!

We awoke to thunder this morning and a nice steady rain has been falling off and on from the sky for the last couple of hours.  I love it - unfortunately I'm at work, but it's dark outside and cozy inside, and I sure could use a nap.  I knew it was going to rain - sinus headaches the last couple of days. Higher humidity...  Think I'll lay my head down on my desk for awhile...

Just kiddin...  Thank ya, Lord, for the rain.  We've needed it so bad, and it'll take alot to get back caught up again, but I'm thankful for every single drop.  'Course, it's been so long since we've had any rain, couldn't find an umbrella anywhere at all this morning.  But I really didn't care!

NOTE:  Sand + rain = gopher trapping! Stay tuned for that!

Josh, my middle son, went up to Nashville to visit his big brother, Adam, awhile back and they sent me some photos.  They went trekking through a wood - some big state park or something.  They found a baby squirrel that wouldn't leave them alone.  They took some pictures and then placed it back in the tree where they found it.  I think it wanted to go with them.  Don't know where the mama squirrel was.  I hope she knew where her youngster was.

Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?  I had a pet squirrel when I was a kid.  Dad found it one day while hunting.  It had fallen out of its nest and I believe he told me it was way up in the tree and part of its tail had broken off or been eaten off.  He brought it home to us and we named him Shorty.  He stayed til he was grown - Dad made him a huge cage.  We fed him milk with a doll bottle and veggies and nuts and whatever else we thought he might like.  We left the cage door open more and more and he would climb all over the outside.  Daddy said he'd leave someday, and sure enough he did.  I guess nowadays you'd call us "wildlife rehabbers".  I've probably told that story before...In fact, I know I have!

NEW TOPIC...

Can you believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it???  I'm really looking forward to the family being together AND of course all the wonderful things that we'll be eating!  Something about family, friends and holidays calls for lots of yummy delicious traditional and non-traditional FOOD! 

How are we going to keep our girlish figures?   Now, when thinking about watching our weight during the holidays this year - let's do what genteel ladies in the past used to do.....

I mean, they're easy to swallow and you suffer no ill effects!  How much easier could it be???  AND they're sanitized!  Why hasn't anybody thought of this recently? 

And keep yore dress down...

California Trip - Part 4 - Napa Valley

Ok, so I thought I was going to be able to do one more post to cover Napa and San Fran, but it was not to be.  I couldn't leave out that many photos.  Hopefully, there'll be only one more part after this, but we'll see.  I wanna have my whole trip on here so I can look back and remember!

On up the coast we drove on PCH 1.  We're getting into some really beautiful ocean scenery and the mountains are climbing up from the water, it seems at times.  Which means that we are driving on the side of the mountains along the coast-line just like you see in the movies, and most places, it's just a two lane highway!  A little scary in spots!  But we made it. At least if you're going north, you're on the inside lane closest to the mountain!  We stopped several places to take pictures and we met up with these little ground squirrels/chipmunks.  They were so cute and tame, they'd come right up to you and beg for food and see if you had anything in your hands!  I'd never seen these before - they had little speckles all over them!  You can definitely feel the temperature change the further up the coast you got. WOW!  It was nice to leave Texas and its 110 temps behind for a week!

We stayed in San Francisco for the night, but decided to take in Napa Valley the next morning and we visited several of the wineries there.  The two we liked the best were Nattui (?) and Castello di Amoroso (the Castle).  It was our favorite - it looked exactly like a Castle on the side of the hill, they were even building a small moat and drawbridge while we were there.  The grapevine-laden valley and basin areas were absolutely breathtaking.  Besides grapes, there were 100 year old olive trees, avocados, and all kinds of citrus.  Must be really a fertile place there - Alot of the vineyards also had their own vegetable gardens - especially those with  restaurants and eateries. 

Below is where we had lunch.  They had a little store where you could buy breads and crackers and fruits, deli meats and imported cheeses and of course, wine, and have picnic lunches on the grounds.  It was a gorgeous day and the temps were perfect!

Above is the Castello di Amoroso - it was filled with history - old wine barrels, old antique wine presses - I'm not talking little ones - I'm talking humongous.  We got to go down into the wine cellars where it was cool and have a wine tasting - that was fun - never did that before - we are not drinkers, but since it was vacation AND it was just the two of us, we decided to go for it!  It was fun!

See the rooster under the olive tree?  At the Castle, they had a gardners cottage and gardens, and chickens and even a pair of peacocks - sure made the whole atmosphere so much more beautiful and romantic!

Lots of old, old, OLD olive trees there and other places, too.  Look at the trunk of that tree (above)!!!

I could almost have sworn that I'd been to Italy, to Tuscany.  It was almost magical and dreamy!

Above - in the little town of Napa, near the visitor center, I spotted this place - I love Tyler Florence and his cooking show and recipes.  He's amazing.  Sadly, hubby wanted to get on the Napa trip and we didn't get to stop in...  The town of Napa itself is beautiful, pristine, slick as a whistle and clean and tidy, and manicured and landscaped.  It looks like a postcard.  Of course, it's because of all the tourists, but still - I really enjoyed it - lots of ritzy stores there, too...

Well, that's the end of my Napa trip.  Of course, I took tons of pictures but I'll leave you with this last photo. 

It was a beautiful and interesting place to go.  I'm glad I went and I would visit there again if I should ever find myself in San Francisco.  Thanks for looking. 

And keep your dress down...

"Snapshots of Jesus" - John 8

On Sunday morning this fall, our preacher at our church is doing a series of lessons on the Life of Jesus and he's entitled it "Snapshots of Jesus".  He decided that he wanted a visual aid OR an illustration from one of the Bible stories about our Savior.  I was asked to illustrate  John 8 - about the woman caught in adultery.  You'll have to do the best you can to view these pictures - my project was sitting out on the front porch where I'd been spraying a sealer on it. Kind of a glare on the photos.

I painted this scene on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood.  Had to be big so the people on the back row could see it.  It will be framed with a black frame, and all the illustrations will be hung in the auditorium during this series of lessons. We've already had some nice ones. There've been some high schoolers that have done a couple and everybody's got a different style and way of approaching their project.

I was convicted during this process of painting.  The Lord has blessed me in all areas in my life AND so richly with a talent for drawing and painting.  I have to confess that I haven't used my talent very much these last few years - for myself OR for the Lord.  Made me think about the lazy servant who went and hid his talent in the ground... No excuses - life just gets in the way, work gets in the way, family illness and death, and college kids, moving, selling one's house, etc.  It All gets in the way.  But those are excuses I know.  I didn't want to do this project at first either, and I griped and complained to my husband when I was asked to do it.  WHEN would I find the time???  I prayed about this, and I knew in my heart that I  needed to do it - not for me, but for God.  So I said YES.  How can one say  NO to God when asked to use one's talents for Him especially when He's done SO much for me?

I asked God to change my heart and help me get through this illustration and do a good job for Him.  It had been so long since I've done a project of this size.  But you know what happened?

The Lord must've helped me in this process because it went off without a hitch.  I had to use acrylic paints - I use oils almost exclusively.  Acrylics mix differently than oils, but I was able to mix and create the colors that I wanted and was pleased with the end result. 

Oh it's not like a "painting" painting.  It's an illustration with big loud colors and not too much detail because it will be viewed across the auditorium.  It needed to be that way.  And I know that I was blessed by doing this project and that the Lord made it easy for me.  AND I GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND THANKS for my talent and for the multiplied time to get this project done.  I pray that God may touch  lives through all the illustrations and that the Snapshots of Jesus may "stick" in the minds of those who view them and that we can ALL apply Jesus' lessons to our lives daily.

Remember - if you'd like to view the pics larger, just click on the photo ----

Below is probably the best photo of these three.  Can you see the Light that radiates from the Lord? 

John 8:12  "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the Light of the world.   Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life' ".   NIV

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