One of a Kind

"The Creator has made us each one of a kind. There is nobody else exactly like us, and there never will be. Each of us is His special creation and is alive for a distinctive purpose. Because of this, the person we are, and the contribution we make by being that very person, are vitally important to God." ~Luci Swindoll

We need to be who WE are, not who someone else wants to make us, or who we think others want us to be! You are the only you on this planet. You are one of a kind. You are a here for a reason, so find out what it is if you haven't done that yet. YOU can change the world, even if it is just a small part of the world. Each life you touch, each nice thing you do, changes the world. You never know how throughout the day whose life you will touch, what difference you will make. Sometimes, it can feel like we aren't making a difference anywhere, even though we are trying. However, you are planting seeds everywhere you go and those seeds may grow and blossom into something, someone who reaches the world and makes a huge difference in society. You are important. Live everyday like you are a life changer, because you are!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Off to Camp

I am in a whirlwind of things that need to be finished up today. I leave for a week of middle school camp tomorrow and there's a lot left to do! I have to take most of my own food, since I have so many food allergies, so that adds a lot to the 'to do' plate. I'm trying to simplify watering the garden for my hubby since he will be home alone all week. My specific job at camp is to be in charge of games. It's amazing how hard it is to plan games for 150 + kids! The camp we are going to is loaded with things to do for their free time, but for the specific game time, I am planning blindfold dodgeball, a scavenger hunt, wacky olympics, and a hunt for the camp leaders who will be hiding around camp, along with a few standby games, just in case. After listening to the weather last night, it looks like I need to be prepared for a possible day of rain. So, there won't be many postings here over the week, but please check back soon!! Have a blessed week.

You

"You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman." — Max Lucado

When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. Genesis 5:1

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

I challenge you to read Psalm 139 and see how much you mean to God. When you read it, absorb it, don't just glance through it.
One of the pastors at our church just found out his wife has cancer and she is telling everyone not to focus on the cancer but on Psalm 139. What a testimony her life is; to those trying to comfort her, she's bringing comfort to them. What is God telling you as you read it?


Psalm 139
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Worry

I'm trying to finishing touches on my end of middle school camp for next week. I must say, I'm not sleeping because I keep waking up thinking of things I need or things I have to do. Add to those thoughts all the crisis's going on with family and friends, and rest is tough to attain right now. I know I need to get a grasp on my thoughts, and know that everything for camp is going to work out fine, and to continue to pray for those I love that are not well, or struggling in some way. God doesn't want us to worry. We need to hand our stuff over to Him. Some day's are easier than others to do that, however. Why do I worry about things so much? I pray about it and should trust that God is going to take care of each situation. I mean, what does my worrying help? It doesn't. It just drags me down and wears me out. If I truly trust God, then I need to give Him each situation and let Him work out each issue. So, I am going to work on that today as I finish up my camp shopping.


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Luke 12:25

Pet Peeve

Okay, so life has been a bit stressful lately, so I have to talk about one of my pet peeves today. If this is something you do, sorry to offend, but I just don't get it. There is one thing I really wonder about. Okay, there are many things I really wonder about, but this one is one I really wondered about today as I was out shopping for game supplies for middle school camp. Why is it that people have gotten so lazy that they can't put on some actual clothes when they go to the store? Now, I'm not saying that people are running around naked, thank goodness, but many are without actual clothes. There are so many people running around in their pajamas all day, in public, and it really drives me crazy. I don't want to see your belly, or other parts that are hanging down to your belly because you forgot to put on under garments, popping out of your too small tank top pajama shirt. What's even worse is when the pajama bottoms waists are rolled down and if the person moves wrong, it could be an x-rated scene! I also don't want to see Rolling Stone or Sponge Bob pajama pants on a 40 year old man! And, most of these people wear fuzzy slippers along with the pajamas!! Think of the germs that get on those slippers after they are worn out into the public areas, and then into the bedroom. Ewwww!! Why do so many people think that every day life out in public has become a sleepover? For those who wear their jammies all day, check out the CLOTHING section in your local stores because they make nice, comfy shorts, capris, jeans, nice t-shirts, and tank tops that are actually for wearing as a shirt, not pajamas. If you want to be comfy, I don't have an issue with that, but please people, put on actual clothing that they sell OUT of the sleepwear section.

Live Intentionally

Don’t let your life speed out of control. Live intentionally. Do something today that will last beyond your lifetime. ~Barbara Johnson

I know I have been thinking a lot lately about life, and have been trying to be more intentional about living my life so that there are no regrets. What will you do today that will be remembered, that will live on, that will make a difference? Are you living intentionally every day, or are you just going through the motions of life? Take time to think about it, and if you need to, make some changes.

Did You Ever Wonder?

Did You Ever Wonder?



For those, like my parents, who cannot watch this video because they still have dial up, it's a little girl asking a lot of questions some of which are:

Did you ever wonder why the sun rises? Why we can't see the wind but we can feel it? How the wind blows? Why the wind blows?

Where do ideas come from?

Did you ever wonder how hummingbirds can fly 60 mph and come to an abrupt stop? How their wings can beat 70 beats per second?


Did you ever wonder how a sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 100 mph?

Did you ever wonder how a mustard seed the size of a pinhead



can grow into a very large tree?



What do you wonder about? Or have you lost your childlike wonder and don't even notice those type of things anymore? When was the last time you watched a little kid and their excitement as they experience life? Watch their eyes and the excitement of their wonder! Do you still remember God in the little things? Do you have a childlike wonder when you think about God? Why do we let that wonder leave us? I challenge you today to remember that wonder and to work on getting it back. Focus on what God has done and who He is and remember that wonder. Take some time to set aside the distractions and just focus on the wonder of God, the wonder of creation, the wonder of life.

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord! Psalm 111:2-4

Summer Fun

The nieces came for a visit over the weekend. Saturday was packed with activity, after we arrived at our house in the early afternoon. First, it was time to play ball with our dog while running through the sprinkler







After the sprinkler and lunch, we watched 101 Dalmatians and played while we waited for my hubby to get home. He was at a men's event for church until mid-day, but as soon as he got home and washed the mud off himself from playing tug of war, we headed to Spokane. Spokane wasn't in the plans, but they insisted that they get to go to the carousel with their uncle since he missed the last trip. We had fun, but there was an annoying carousel attendant who walked around the shorter than last time rides, at an amazing pace. Not sure why he decided to do laps through those of us trying to enjoy a carousel ride but he sure did them fast and every time, he would bump into us as we sat there,
attempting to enjoy the ride!



After the five short rides on the carousel, we decided to head back to Idaho and grab some dinner at GW Hunters, and then we went to play mini golf. Hubby and I have never played mini golf so fast! The girls went through the course at lightning speed!! I think their favorite hole was the one when they hit it in the hole, it traveled underground to another green and popped out. They were fascinated at how the ball started out on one green and ended up on another! They were so fascinated, they played that hole about ten times each. We finished up mini golf just before sunset.



We came home and ate some 'ice cream' we made in our Vita Mix. We just add a touch of soy milk and lots of frozen fruit. Yummy and no sugar or preservatives!! This particular batch had organic blueberries and organic strawberries. We had two very blue faces in the house as they enjoyed the treat. The evening ended with watching a funny movie about dogs, and a slumber party in the living room with all of us landing on the couch, and our big air mattress. Today, we did some shopping and bought a few books, then took them home. We had a great time with the girls and built a lot of memories and had a lot of laughs. I don't know about the girls, but I know that a certain aunt and uncle are completely worn out!

Summer

The bountiful harvest of summer is upon us. I picked a handful of raspberries last night, finally! Usually the raspberries are done by now in a normal year. We are enjoying our lettuce, kale, peas, fresh herbs, and mixed greens. The tomatoes are coming on nicely and I look forward to when they ripen. There are two zucchini's close to being ready and my flowers are producing abundant blossoms right now. Ah, the joys of summer! Take some time to enjoy summer this weekend, because it's going by fast.

Do You See Him?

We have an amazing God. Take some time today to reflect on all the great things He has done—and let your emotions reflect your joyful heart! Look around you and see the wonder of God. If you put away the distractions, you can see God all around you. He has made all of creation and He shines through it. Don't be confused-don't worship creation. Worship, and be in awe and wonder of the one who made it!

The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don't speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world. Psalm 19:1-4

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. Romans 1:19-21

Lilies

I have a new favorite flower in my garden. I purchased this beautiful lily in May at our local farmers market. It is putting on a beautiful show right now and I am enjoying it's grandeur.

Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Luke 12:27-28

Where flowers bloom so does hope.- Lady Bird Johnson

The Earth Laughs in Flowers- Ralph Waldo Emerson