Springtime=Yardtime

We are in the midst of the month of May.  It brings rain showers, warm days and cool nights.  Perfect weather for the yard to be green (whether it is full of grass or weeds).  I have a push mower – one of the ‘old-fashioned’ types.  Since I don’t do well in the heat, I am doing my yard work in the early mornings.  I did some of this last year and will be doing everything except weedwacking in the early mornings – people may not be happy with a battery operated weedwacker running before 7:00 a.m.  [I also believe it is against City Ordinance]  So I will leave that for Saturday mornings at 8.

This will be my 5^th summer here and I still haven’t figured out what to do with the mess I call a yard.  I think my daughter is actually making a plan and maybe we will work on it this year but for sure next year!

Spring Clean-Up

I have the landscaping crew coming today to do a spring clean-up on my yard.  Then it is my duty to keep up on it :-)

I think my daughter and I will be looking at doing some raised beds.  I would also love to put up a clothesline ~ maybe one of the umbrella type

My small group is starting a new book of the Bible this Saturday: Jonah.  I am looking forward to actually getting into the Word versus a book by some celebrated author.

Praises to God for His grace.  Yesterday was my daughter's 1st day of full-time employment.  Congrats to her and thanks to the Lord!

Is It Springtime?

Yay ~ we are getting some sunshine this week.  I hope things dry out but don’t start growing yet.  I have yard work to do before the yard starts growing!

Week 2 of Eat To Live is going well.  I didn’t weigh or use measuring tape so I am relying on how I feel and how my clothes fit to note any weight loss.

I know a lot of people who make a list of their yearly projects.  I was thinking about that this morning and realized that I don’t do that on a regular basis.  I suppose budget-wise it would be a really good habit to be in.  I have some organizing projects that won’t take any financial budget, just time budget.  However, I do have a couple of projects that delve into the financial realm of things.  These aren’t huge projects so the output should be minimal.

I give thanks daily to our awesome Lord who gives us these beautiful bits of spring to entice us into the new season.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Whew~what a busy weekend that was!  Very enjoyable times with my small group, daughter, church and volunteering.  I was gone from home most of the weekend and didn’t get any yard work done [this issue is hanging over my head].

My first Farm Chicks event!  What a great time we had~a huge thumbs up.  I think we may make this a Mother/Daughter yearly event.  A big ‘thank you’ to Serena for this wonderful yearly show of antiques and handmade items with lots of vendors.

Yes, I bought a ‘Newzgirl’ style cap while there.  Actually that was my goal~to add to my headcovering repertoire.  A shout out to www.oldmanspants.com ; they are a local, small business that is friendly and helpful.  I am eyeing a couple of other caps on their website.

The Daniel study I am doing on Thursday evenings is wrapping up at the end of June.  My small group has also disbanded for the summer.  I am on the search for some good books/series and a good bible study to tide me over for the summer ~~ I am sure the yard work will be calling my name as I try and plug my ears—LOL!

A weed-free flower bed

I am making process on my yard work.  One flower bed at a time :~)

I had a great Memorial Day weekend.  I helped re-create a raised garden bed and plant the garden.  I am excited to see how things are popping up in a month!

The Lord is faithful.  I see this as I go through each day and reflect on situations.  I am in awe of His great love for His children.  We can be wayward, ignorant, selfish, worldly, etc., yet He is always available for us and is waiting for us to knock at His door!

Gardening/Yard Work -- Lack of Action

I have been having difficulty motivating myself to do ANY yard work.  I have the following from Heartlight printed and posted in my cubicle at work.  I am going to print in for home as well.

To my shame, I need to acknowledge the attitude of laziness with regard to my yard.  I had e-mailed the following request to my small group and would request prayers from you as well.

This will sound like a silly request; however, will you pray for me in my perseverance in yard work and that God gives me delight in it.  Currently, it is the VERY last thing I want to do EVER and I need the Lord’s strength and life-changing touch for this attitude adjustment.

I appreciate your prayers very, very much!

Today's Verse for 10/18/2012

If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks. — Ecclesiastes 10:18

Thought

Laziness is not just an attitude, it is a lack of action. It is a choice to let important matters suffer neglect. While the results of this choice may not always be evident, over the passage of time, the basic results of idleness are borne out by the accumulating signs of decay and destruction.

Prayer

Stir in me, dear Heavenly Father, a passion to do what is true and good and righteous. Convict my heart when I neglect what is important. Please help me discern the difference between laziness and a genuine need for rest and to balance my life between my many responsibilities. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayers for Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse Illustrated

---

© 1998-2012, Heartlight Inc.

Happy May Day

My devotional this morning spoke of the renewing birth of nature each spring.  The Lord is speaking to me about my yard through these morning devotions – the past couple of weeks have focused on nature and gardens!

When I was young, my yard work experience was not of the nurturing kind and I tend to dread and resist it on a regular basis.  However, through these devotions I am seeing a different aspect of nature ~ with my yard specifically.  Although my goal is to have minimal grass, I am having native plants and wildflowers along with raised garden beds.  There will be rock with native grasses interspersed for color.  I have come to realize {on an intimate level} that each bit of green or color is from God; whether it is a weed or flower.

Thank you Lord for the beauty of your creation!

Bible Study

Last night was my second week of Beth Moore’s Book of Daniel study.  She is an amazing speaker.  We are doing a Women’s Ministry Thursday evening study and are using workbooks along with her DVDs.  She makes it relevant to our world today and the insight she is giving from multiple sources is fantastic.

I look forward to going to a live event when one is nearby :~)

Another week has come and gone.  The weather is still very rainy, windy and cold.  My yard is looking overgrown and weedy :-(  I am praying for good weather on Monday [my day off] so that I may rake and start some weeding!

Blessings!

This is my third spring at my little house.  The first year was seeing what we had, the second year we decided to remove our front lawn in an eco-friendly way and this year I need to weed our front yard as it is a dirt patch with lots and lots of weeds.  The goal is to put in a walk-way and some native, low-watering plants.  LOL - I still haven't gotten the hang of yardwork :-(  It's great when it is done; it is the doing that is rough (kind of like housework!)...  I still have my daughter at home through the middle of August, so I need to get busy as she will help me get things going  :-)

Otherwise, life is status quo around here :-)