Garden

Our snow really disappeared yesterday. It was a cool day, but we had high winds and it took the majority of the snow off the front yard. The middle of the flower bed is still covered in snow from where we shoveled the roof, off, but around the edges there are tulips starting to poke through! I can't figure out why my crocuses haven't bloomed yet, but hope to see them soon as well. I was wondering why we long for our gardens so much, and besides the beauty of the flowers and the bounty of produce they offer, I think it's because life began in a garden, a perfect garden, free of weeds, disease, and pests. The perfect relationship between humans and God and between humans and themselves took place in that garden. There wasn't any disease, stress, or death in that garden. Life was perfect. Life was amazing. Can you imagine, there wasn't any knapweed, crab grass, aphids, or earwigs! God gave Adam and Eve the best of everything, yet they still wanted more. They decided they wanted to be like God and they chose to disobey him. Because of their choice of disobedience, they were banned from the perfect life, the perfect garden, and had to fight weeds, sickness, and death. God still was with them, but in a different way. They now had to go to Him, instead of Him just always walking with them. Just as parents have to discipline their children for bad choices, God had to discipline them, and us. We have to choose to believe in Him, He doesn't make us. Sin entered the world in that perfect garden, in the perfect relationships, and now we have to work at those relationships, both with God and with each other. We have to pick the weeds of life out of our relationships and cultivate meaningful relationships and work hard to produce bountiful friendships and time with God, the original gardener. So as I long for my Spring flowers and being able to plant my garden, my soul longs more for that perfect relationship with the Gardener, my Savior. He is always planting seeds in me and wanting to produce great things, but I have to take the time to grow them, spend time pulling the weeds of life out of the way, and get in the Word to nourish my soul.

Security

Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place,your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security. ~Elisabeth Elliot

It's funny how we do search for a place to belong, a safe haven, when all we need to do is give our lives fully to Jesus and He will provide that safe place for us. Yes, we still need relationships because that is what we were created for, to love and to be loved, to let others in our lives and to walk with others through their life. However, we don't put our trust in others that they will fulfill us because if we do, we will be strongly disappointed. God wants to fill us up and be the one we lean completely on, whether times are good or not so good. He gave us relationships with others so we can learn how to love, even though people will let us down at times. Friendships are vital to life, but what God has to offer us is far above what an earthly friend can give. As you enjoy the friendships you have been blessed with, dig deeper into your friendship with God and see where it takes you!

The hands of God will hold us close in ways that no earthly friend ever could. You have a Father...Friend...Savior...a home in heaven. God is as near as you'll allow Him to be. ~Mary Pielenz Hampton

Trip

We've been in the Seattle area since Thursday. About sixty of us from our church in the children's, middle school, and high school ministries went to a conference for some training in the Redmond area. We had a great time and received some good resources and encouragement.

As we started over the top of Snoqualmie Pass, heading West, it suddenly got green!! There was grass and ferns everywhere. Once we were in the city, there was bright green grass everywhere, as well as flowers and trees blooming. It was so pretty! We only experienced a partial day of misty showers so we were excited about that, and the temperatures were in the 50's. It was wonderful to experience SPRING!

For those of you, like us, who haven't seen green grass since October, this is what it looks like!!!

We made a quick stop at Snoqualmie Falls on the way home. It was beautiful, as usual. The rhododendrons where in full bloom at the Falls, as well.

It was nice to get home, but it was hard to see the snow that is still piled in our yard. Plus, the temperature dropped 22 degrees in three hours! Oh well, the hope for spring is that much more alive in us and we look forward to it with great anticipation. We even bought some landscape cloth at Costco yesterday to start working on the backyard as soon as we can get back there. Sounds like we are in for a cool, wet week here but it might wash away some of the snow, so I will try not to complain and know that March showers bring April flowers!

Simple Things

I was getting a few groceries today and the clerk commented to me how everyone was in a much better frame of mind today and actually smiling because the sun was out. She said it is amazing how the weather really makes a difference in customers attitudes-whether they choose to smile and be nice because the weather is good, or whether they are grouchy and don't offer a smile back to her when she offers it. I know she smiles most of the time and is cheery because I see her at least once a week, sometimes twice and I always look forward to her warm greeting. I know that what she said about people's moods is the truth, and I will say after a very long winter, my spirits are lifted when the sun is shining, but if we depend on the weather to make us smile or be grumpy, that is pretty sad. Life is about much more than the weather, and if you live in North Idaho and depend on the weather for your mood, you will spend most of your life depressed and wearing a frown on your face, because we have a lot of gray days!!! Life is about the small joys, as well as the big ones. I got to spend a little time with my nieces today, playing with their princess Barbies and Barbie want-to-be's from the dollar store, and their horses. We had fun putting Cinderella in her carriage and my sister made a makeshift halter for one of the horses to pull the carriage. I asked the girls where the prince was and since they don't have any boy dolls, they looked around and quickly made due with a Care Bear teddy bear for the prince. It made me laugh, especially inside, because here is a beautiful Cinderella Barbie with her long, flowing, glittery blue gown, and the prince is a chunky, turquoise bear with stars and hearts on his belly! The point is, enjoy life and don't sweat the small stuff! Life is full of heartache and sadness, but it is also full of joy and simple pleasures. Lately, we've had a lot of both in our lives and I am thankful that God brings along the moments with a clerk who chooses to be happy no matter what the weather, and pass that happiness on to her customers. I am also thankful for the simple moments playing with my nieces to be brought back to a simpler time, even if only for a few moments. Remember to find happiness in the simple things-look for it, search it out, and enjoy it! The most important thing to do though, is to pass it along to others!

"For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness." ~Andy Rooney

Investment

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself."
~Charles Schulz

Last night was Monday night, which is youth group night. Usually I am at church, helping to check in three hundred kids, showing them where they need to be, and helping leaders out where I can. Last night, however, the kids met in the homes of their small group leaders. I went around to the leaders that are under me and checked out the different groups, and took some pictures. Well, I took pictures everywhere except the first group. I walked in the house and sat and enjoyed some time with the girls and then went to snap a few photos, only to find I forgot to put my card back in my camera! Oops. They had a good laugh at my expense, as they should have. After leaving there, I ran and bought a new card and off to the other groups I went. About this time, a blinding snow decided to come upon the area, which made driving quite interesting. I honestly have not seen snow flakes so large and come down so hard in a long, long time, if ever. Even with a visit from winter, the evening was a lot of fun. The kids were enjoying themselves and there was a lot of laughter everywhere I went. Some of the leaders are probably still trying to get all the chocolate cleaned up from the ice cream sundaes they had, but it built great memories for those girls and the time invested in them will be remembered throughout their life time.

Somehow, find a way to invest in a kids life. It's not always an easy job, and sometimes you don't see that you made a difference until years down the road, if ever, but you will make a difference if you care about them and show them how to live. So many kids now days don't have an adult they can look up to, so I challenge you to be that adult in a kids life, and make a real difference in someone's future.

Sunday Drive

Unlike today, where we woke up to fresh snow on the ground, yesterday was a beautiful sunny day! We decided to go for a drive around a couple of lakes in the area and see if we could spot any wildlife. We saw dozens of Robins and Canadian Geese! We also had fun watching some deer. We drove by quite a few old farms, and some had lost their old barns or out buildings due to the heavy snow, while others made it through the winter. It was nice to get out and enjoy the day! Our dog had a smile on her face the entire drive as well. I think even she is ready for spring to arrive.

Our trip ended with meeting our friends who had just arrived home from five weeks in Hawaii. They were having a bit of shock to their bodies with the weather, considering they just left 80 plus degree temperatures. It is good to have them home, though! They brought me a beautiful lei with the sweetest fragrance, which makes me want my flowers to start blooming even more. I know spring is on the way, it just gets hard to wait for it this time of year!!





Hide and Seek

Signs of Spring

Ah, it hit 50 today and the sun is out! I had a lot of windows open today!! The snow is starting to disappear from our yard, and I can actually see my raised garden beds out back again! As I look in our backyard, I remember how much work we have ahead of us in getting the yard, flower beds, berries, patio, the rest of the garden area in. I look forward to the finished product! We have some small patches of grass showing along our south sidewalk in the front, and the hope of spring's arrival is getting much, much closer! With this nice weather, I have an itch to go geocaching! I suppose it's an itch, because along with this weather comes ticks and there's nothing like tromping around looking for geocaches to help find those ticks! Yuck! That is the one thing I don't like about spring-creepy crawling ticks. Are you itching yet? I did see my first Robin today! I have seeds sitting here waiting to be started, just have to get all the things I need to start those seeds. My friend and I are sharing seeds this year, since we are buying all organic, non-gmo and it gets spendy, but she's still in Hawaii and won't be home for a few days yet. My mom told me I ordered enough tomatoes to feed several families, but I have never had much luck with starting tomatoes, unlike my mom, so I hope that at least a few grow. I did order five different varieties, so we will have some yummy tomatoes if they do make it. Well enough day dreaming about fresh produce from my garden, a backyard, and caching. I think I am going to go step outside a bit and brush my dog and soak in a few rays of sunshine before this wonderful day disappears!

"Do more than exist, live.

Do more than touch, feel.

Do more than look, observe.

Do more than read, absord.

Do more than hear, listen.

Do more than listen, understand.

Do more than think, ponder.

Do more than talk, say something."
~John H. Rhoades

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19

Extra Day

Do you ever find yourself saying 'I wish I just had one more day to....' however you finish that sentence. This year, this week, we all have the gift of an extra day. Every four years we get one extra day in our life, so what will you do with it to make it a life memory? Will it be just another day, or will you take the opportunity to make that day extra special, extra meaningful? Will you, and those in your life, look back and remember February 29, 2008 as a really special day? Take the opportunity to make the most of the extra day you are given this week. You could have a leap year party, call someone you haven't talked to in awhile and catch up, send a card to someone just because you were thinking of them, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, do something you've wanted to do but you haven't taken the opportunity to do it, plan something that will be remembered until the next leap year rolls around. The main thing to remember is to make the most of the day, and to make memories that will live on forever.

"I refuse to accept seats on the 50 yard line of life. I brought my shoes. I came to play." ~ Nike Ad

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Snow Buddies

When the the movie Snow Buddies was being advertised on tv that it was coming on video, my little niece, who is three, turned to me and batted her eyes and said she would REALLY like to see that movie, and I should buy it for her. Since I can't resist my nieces, and I'm a sucker for Golden Retrievers, I bought it the day after it came out! Since the nieces live an hour away, we had to wait until we saw them again to watch it. The girls were both so excited! They stood with the box, asking each puppies name. Fortunately the names of each puppy are on the back of the movie, and they knew who every puppy was before we even put the dvd in the machine. They gathered up every toy puppy they could find at grandma and grandpa's house before watching the movie, and named them after the puppies on the movie. We had a great time watching the movie and giggled a lot. The girls spent the night with us the other night, and one of the main things on their agenda was to watch the movie again, which of course we did!



Just as the girls had a great joy and excitement over the movie, we should have that type of joy and excitement over our relationship with Christ. I think sometimes we try to get to technical and too 'religious' when all we have to do is be real to those around us, and have a real relationship with Christ, not out trying to be holier than thou types, because non-believers will never want that type of life! We just need to show what Christ has done in our lives, with great joy, and allow ourselves to be real so others know it's not about how great we are, but how great our God is and how forgiven we are because we all make mistakes on a regular basis. I think if we truly care for others, they will see the joy, peace, and excitement in us and wonder what is different.

Roberta

It's hard to write much, think much this morning. My thoughts have been consumed with the Bostock/Welker/Sheffler family and the pain they must be experiencing with the loss of their wife, mom, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and the many, many friends that Roberta touched. I've known this family for 24 years and my heart and prayers go out to them so much. Roberta was so kind, so loving, always smiling. She's the kind of person that others strive to be like, the kind of person others long to be around, but her whole family is that way. Roberta has left a wonderful legacy and will be remembered with warm thoughts and love by all who knew her. Since she was a believer in Jesus, she is celebrating right now and we who share that belief will see her again.

The Christian does not consider death to be the end of his life, but the end of his troubles.
~A. Mark Wells

"A heart of gold stopped beating, two shining eyes at rest. God broke our hearts to prove, He only takes the best."

"Live, love, and laugh often, for you never know which moment is going to be your last."

If you knew her, they are putting together a book for the family. The details are:

In honor of Roberta those of us who were touched by her life would like to compile a book of memories for her family. If you have a story or a picture you would like to share, please write it down and drop it off at any of the following locations. First Christian Church or Sandpoint High School or Riverstone Real Estate