Be Who You Are

There is no one else in the whole wide world like you. I'm sure you have heard that before, but I wonder if you understand how true it is and how precious you are to God. We are not always treasured on this earth. Our relationships with our parents or friends or spouses can lead us to believe that we may be unique, but that it's not a good thing. So often we are encouraged to blend in, don't rock the boat, don't be different, but I say, rock that boat, and be who you are. . . .
When you hold back who you really are, we all miss out. So whether you are a pet nut or a wordsmith, whether you like high heels or flip-flops, be who you really are. You have a voice and a style that is all your own. It has been given to you by God so that through you, a unique picture of our Father is seen. ~Sheila Walsh

Worry is a Waste of Time

With all the chaos going on in our country and world-wars, elections, banking issues, food and gas prices, and on and on, it's easy to get overwhelmed with worry and stress and thinking about the 'what if's.' So I just thought I would include a few thoughts and encourage those reading to not be bogged down by the stress, but to pray about it and know that no matter what God is still in control and He has a plan. We may not see what that plan is right away; as a matter of fact, it may be years down the road until we understand or see why things happened, but there is a reason. Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. ~Benjamin Franklin

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength."

So, today, find joy instead of worry. Enjoy the blessings in your life and focus on a day filled with joy. Challenge yourself to do acts of kindness to those around you-smile, let someone go ahead of you in line or take that close parking stall, speak kind words, say thank you, open a door for someone, help out a neighbor, rake leaves for someone, visit an elderly person and see how you can help them out, volunteer in your church or community, help out a single parent. Whatever you do today, give. It feels good, and it takes your mind off your worries!!

Family Time

Over the weekend, I spent some time in the woods with my mom and dad, my cousin, and my nieces. My husband had training for his job, so it seemed like a good time to just go have some down time with my family. We got some wood while we were up there. The two dogs enjoyed playing. Do they look happy?



This is a dead tree that my dad is harvesting for fire wood. It's supposed to fall to his right.

Remember, right...............

Did we say right? We meant left!




One niece spent the entire time in the woods trying to catch grasshoppers. Back at camp, she finally got one and carried it around in a bottle. She made sure to give it leaves to eat.






The other niece spent her time collecting a bagful of colored leaves. I am sure that they ended up in school projects this week.



It was fun to see things through the eyes of a child, just so innocent, new, and exciting. As a photographer, I like to see the little things that can be overlooked, too, so it's fun to have little girls to help point things out to me. It was fun collecting leaves, as well. I encouraged the bug catching, but was not much of a help in that area. I always enjoy spending time with my family and thank God for them. I also thank God for the gift He has given me by having a loving, caring family in my life.

Fall

Fall has definitely arrived! We have had a cold, stormy day filled with black, billowing clouds that looked rather angry at times. Chill has filled the air tonight, and a heavy frost is predicted. I harvested three very large bowls of tomatoes tonight and covered the plants with a heavy tarp, hoping to protect them and prolong their lives for another week. Morning will reveal if my efforts were successful.

On Saturday, I went out and enjoyed some of the colors that are painted across the landscape. I love the beautiful reds, yellows, browns, and oranges that God paints on each tree and plant this time of year.

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. . ~ Henry David Thoreau

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." ~William Cullen Bryant

Gentle Giants

I went out to see the draft horses while in Sandpoint on Saturday. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make it to one of the shows. When we were kids, we went to the show every year and loved it! I remember many years where we almost froze while watching the show, and we were bundled up in layers of clothes and drinking hot chocolate, but would still come home and take a hot bath to warm up. It was neat to see so many of the same families are still part of the show as they were when we were growing up. I imagine it's second and third generation leading the beautiful gentle giants in the shows now. I had my sister and nieces with me. They had been to the show the night before, so I got a nice recap from the girls of what they saw. I think next year I will try to make it a priority to go to one of the shows, because I really miss watching those huge animals do amazing things!




The most comical thing we saw was a team of goats hitched up behind a wagon and taking kids for a ride.






The girls were in awe at how large some of the horses were, including this one. They just kept saying 'Wow, that is one big horse!"



It was a lot of fun to go see all the horses, mules, and goats and to have some great time with my sister and her girls, just enjoying a beautiful afternoon.

Blog Block

It seems I have a little blog block going on. It could just be that my mind is overwhelmed with things that have been taking place in our lives. It could just be busyness. It could be that the weather has been unseasonably warm and wonderful! Whatever it is, my brain is not functioning in writing mode, or any mode for that matter. I was going to take a drive today and capture some Fall colors and beauty of the lake, but forgot my camera, which really makes me think that my brain is on overload because my camera is usually like having my arm with me, it just is always there! Maybe I can capture some photos later this week. The weather sounds like Fall will be arriving this weekend, with much cooler temps and rain. Unfortunately, we can't keep Summer around much longer, unlike Winter this year that never wanted to leave! But, it looks like it's time to start cleaning up the yard, getting in more firewood, and preparing for the cold. I hope to catch a few of the last rays of Summer in the next couple days, and hold onto them until sometime in May when that warm sun comes around again.

Deceptive Beauty

Pretty isn't it?

But if you look close you will see that the stem is full of thorns, very painful thorns if touched. This is a young plant and the thorns aren't as bad as on a mature plant where the thorns are much longer and thicker.




Some people are that way, they seem to be pleasant to be around but when you get too close to them, and find out more about them, they hurt you. Their looks are deceiving. They are fakes.

Satan is that way. He lures us in with his beauty, maybe enticing and enthralling us to get to close to what we should stay away from. He wants to trip us up and make us believe his lies. Satan makes us believe that trying a little of this or that, even though we know we shouldn't, won't harm us in any way. He lies to get us to do harm to ourselves. He makes us believe that things that will hurt us, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally, are not going to harm us , and he makes us believe that we are not worthy to be loved by God. He only has this power, though, if we let him have it. We have to be strong in our faith, be in God's word so we know the truth when things come along that trip us up, and we have to stand strong and not be tempted or swayed.


Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong. Show love in everything you do.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Weekend

It's been a long weekend! We have sat with some friends in the hospital, after tragedy struck their family. It's hard for me when I'm in this type of situation with friends, because I want to fix things but I can't! I can sit with them and be there if they want to talk, but I am not a person who comes up with great things to say at times like this, so I usually just sit there and try to think of something that isn't completely dumb to say to them. I pray for them, and try to help where I can.

We needed a little diversion, so did go for a drive. We ended up in Montana, where we visited Nordicfest, the Libby Dam, and Lake Koocanusa.







The moon rise last night was amazing. When it first came up, it was a huge, somewhat translucent white ball. Unfortunately, we were driving in town as it came up and there wasn't a great place to pull over and get a picture, so I had to wait until we got a bit further out on the prairie to snap a few shots.

Remembering

It seems to me that too many Americans have forgotten the attacks on our nation seven years ago. Somehow, many defend the terrorists who attacked our country and killed thousands of people. Somehow, this has become America's fault with certain people. I don't get that at all! Actually, it makes me quite upset and I wonder what happened to America, to pride in being an American, to fighting for the country you live in. I wonder what has happened to our country and why so many work so hard to defend terrorists, but won't stand up and defend their own country? They cry out for human rights for the terrorists, but they protest those fighting for them so that they have the right to stand in protest of those who give their limbs, their lives, for their freedom.



Do you remember the feelings you had on that day? Do you remember how you felt when you saw the pictures, the live coverage? I do. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember feeling shocked, horrified, scared, sad, and angry that this happened by people who don't have any regard for human life. I remember having an extreme pride in America and for being mad that our land was attacked.



What happened to patriotism, to being proud of your country and standing up for it no matter what the cost? Why do we let the media, people who make up bogus movies about our country, totally change what we know is right and wrong in life? Have we become so inundated with media sources that we have forgotten how to think for ourselves, because seems that if the media or hollywoodites say something, people take it as gospel because they said it. Do we ever take time to really examine the FACTS? Do we take time to look into things ourselves and find out the truth? Look into people and issues for yourself, and don't be swayed by the media, by what one person says. I challenge you to think for yourself and not allow the media to sway your thoughts.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (New Living Translation)

Goats

We were at our favorite deli in Post Falls yesterday, grabbing some lunch, when suddenly everyone in the place was staring at the TV on the wall. What was the big news story that stopped everyone in their tracks? It must have been something big, right, like the death of a world leader, war, natural disaster? Well, it was a bit more light-hearted. They were talking about goats. Yes, goats. Goats that fall over with any loud noise, if they are scared an any way, or even just excited to get their food. These goats fall over, get stiff as a board for a few seconds, and then pop back up. Strange, huh?

Hopefully, we don't go through life the same way, that whenever we get scared or life throws us something new, we fall over, we retreat from reality because it's easier to deal with things that way. Instead we need to learn how to get through the unexpected, the tough times, and stay grounded in our beliefs, in our faith, in who we are and not let anyone shake us up.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)

Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong. Show love in everything you do. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (Contemporary English Version)

My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Contemporary English Version)

"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Job 11:13-16 (New International Version)

Seize the Day

"Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use." —Charles M. Schulz

We often don’t try new things in life because we automatically assume that we aren't capable of doing them, that it's too hard, or that we should have done that when we were younger. It’s never too late to explore a new venture in life. Why don’t you start today? God gives us abilities and talents to use to serve Him and others, so don't waste another day of not using what you have been given and try something new today. Why wait? Jump in to life and stop sitting on the sidelines, watching life go by. Stop being a spectator, and start being a participant. Grab life and the opportunities it offers you while you can.

Seasons

The season is changing and along with it comes a new season of football. I've loved to watch football since I was in 5th or 6th grade. I don't know what got me interested in football, other than a boy I liked at the time, because my dad has never been one to sit down and turn on the game. But, I have been a loyal fan since elementary school, and the love for football payed off when 22 years ago this week, I met this tall, handsome football player who lived in the same dorm as I did at college. My new-found friends and I had our boom box outside our dorm, and were just having fun, dancing and laughing, after a long day of freshman orientation and frosh initiation. I was at Whitworth, in a freshman dorm, so it was just good, clean fun. It was about eleven o'clock at night, and my nineteenth birthday was an hour away. Before this, the resident directors had everyone in our dorm meet in the big room between the guys side and the girls side and we talked, got to know each other, and then since it had been a long day, they had us switch off giving each other back rubs. I ended up with this guy as my back rub giver, and all I had seen of him was that he was a football player and that he was standing on a table in the cafeteria acting like a rooster, due to his roommate having to do something for initiation. My first impression was 'wow, that guy is strange. Cute, but strange.' So after the back rubs and getting to know everyone in the dorm was over, a bunch of us just went outside and enjoyed a nice evening, and laughed a lot, before our classes began the next day. The back rubbing, rooster imitating, football player came out, with other guys, and we all were talking. This football player and I started to talk, then went for a walk down the block to Circle K to get a Coke because apparently, the Coke's on campus weren't good enough. We returned to the dorm and sat in the commons area of our dorm until the wee hours of the morning, just talking, and now, a couple days short of 22 years together, I can say we've been walking together in life ever since that nice September night.

Back to football. It was a tough weekend for us Cougar fans, but a good weekend for the Vandals. I share the loyalty of the Palouse in cheering for both teams. When they play each other, I just cheer for both of them. It was also a tough week for the Patriots, with Tom Brady getting hurt so bad in the game on Sunday. I have followed the Patriots ever since Drew Bledsoe went from being a Cougar to being a Patriot. I wasn't real happy when the youngin' took his place, but I continued to follow them as a team and see why that youngin' took his place. I guess he's proven himself after ALL those Superbowl's! As I looked over the game analysis pages, seems there were a lot of injuries on this first week of the NFL, which could make for a long season for some of the teams, and some of the fans.

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about how there is a season for everything. A few that are mentioned include: A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. No matter what season you are going through in life, Jesus is there and wants to help you through it. Allow Him to take your struggles and carry them. He promises us in Matthew 28 that if we believe in Him and follow Him, He is always there. We just have to trust that we can make it through the storm, the change of season. Sometimes the change of season in our life is for good and we need to remember to give praise and thanks to God for that time, just like we ask for help and courage in the hard times. Whatever season in life you may be in right now, rely on God, because He is there.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)

Quote of the Day

Faith is realizing that I am useful to God not in spite of my scars but because of them. ~Pamela Reeve


Think of how the scars of your life can help someone, and then find someone to help. Your scars are a part of your life, and you went through that experience for some reason. Ask God why, and when He shows you, don't waste that hurt, but use it to help someone out.

Trials

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Life is full hard stuff. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed and like giving up, but we need to press on. Jesus said that we would have a lot of trials and tribulations in this world, but we need not despair. Why, because our hope is in God. Hope helps us see that God restores us, and that we don't need to become paralyzed by the problems in life, even if there seems to be no way out at the time. God will show us the way out if we allow Him to guide us.

Right now, you may be surrounded by trouble, but you are not alone. You cannot get stuck in this place because you are not without help. You have a great support. God is your helper. You don’t have to be perplexed, uncertain, or concerned about your future. God has promised to get you through it. Even if you are being persecuted by your enemies, rejected or cast down, God says, “I will never leave you.” There’s no need to fight your fears. Put your trust in God and allow His power to work through your weakness. We need to remember to not get stuck in our fears and troubles, because God is still on His throne working on our behalf.

In this life, we will be pressed, sometimes crushed, and perplexed, but we shouldn't be in despair. Because no matter what storm we face, no matter what kind of trouble comes along, and no matter who’s out to get us, the truth remains the same-God is still God and He loves us!

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:3-5 (New Living Translation)

Plants

A few plant scenes from the weekend. Some of these are weeds, some trees, some flowers. Some of them are from my yard, some from my parents yard, and some from our camping trip to the woods over the weekend. Beauty is where you find it, and how you look at things.

"Flowers are God's way of smiling."

"The earth laughs in flowers." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunset

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. ~Ansel Adams

Although I didn't have my nice camera, just the one on my phone, I had to get a picture of tonight's sunset. It was amazing! The clouds to the north were purple and blue, while the sunset lit up the western sky in an amazing display of orange, pink, peach, red, blues, and yellow. Once again, I was reminded why I should always have my camera at my side! I was so tired, though, after being out camping all weekend, I didn't grab it as we went to town to run a couple errands. God put on an amazing display of beauty over north Idaho tonight. I am grateful that I was able to partake in the show!