The Scenic Route: Turning Out

EB White 

Morning Glories 

Do you ever have a weekend that goes nothing like you thought it would? That's about how mine just went!

My goal for Friday was to finish the laundry for the week and get the rest of my cutting flowers planted.

Jay needed help digging out peonies and echinacea... I went over there with my brother and sister and we joined him in the pulling party. When we were done he invited us in for ice cream complete with hot fudge and butterscotch!

We headed home and I had them watch for snakes while I put a bunch of the new plants into the ground.

Saturday I kept my garden areas watered, worked on some blog stuff, finished the laundry, went to the library, and watched the end of Driving Miss Daisy. (I cried...)

I'm writing this after lunch on Sunday. So far today I've spent some time reading EB White's "This is New York", whipping together a jello salad for a potluck, and getting rid of some clutter.

This weekend was supposed to be crazy and busy and include a trip out of town...It turned out to be the perfect weekend at home with time to accomplish so many things that just needed doing.

How was YOUR weekend? 

What are you looking forward to this week?

God is Right There

What a morning it has been! I woke up to the sun coming in through the window and decided that I would get out of bed and head out to the patio. I love beginning my day outside in the fresh, cool air while it is still completely peaceful. 
This morning I brought out a glass of water, my Bible, and my journal. I decided to read the five Psalms of the day (take the day and keep adding thirty to it until you run out of Psalms). As I read Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, and 125 I saw one theme:
The cause of the Lord stands. 
I was also reminded that my soul needs to KNOW that God is at work. He is my salvation. He surrounds me and keeps me walking in that salvation that He has given to me. 
Everything He made is in His hand. I can be sure of that. In Him, we have our cause. Oh that I would be led by that cause daily! 
Since then, I came inside and had breakfast and visited with my Mom. Then I settled back down to read "Knowing God" by JI Packer. I'm not one to re-read books, but there are a few books I do re-read. This book is one of them. 
If there is one book you should read this year (I hope I haven't already said this...), you should read "Knowing God"! It has been a few years since my last trip through it....I forgot how RICH it truly is! 
In the first chapter, Packer quotes Charles Spurgeon in a call to the journey through coming to truly know God, 
"Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity...Go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in the immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead..."
Any of you who have spent time with God in an attempt to KNOW Him, know this to be true. Whatever questions are raised, whatever convictions are had, there is NOTHING like sitting with God. 
However strange it sounds, there you find plain truth that leads to the clearest thinking you can have about life. And what PEACE and JOY and SECURITY truth brings. 
Packer describes Psalm 119 as communicating the fact that,
"His supreme desire was to know and enjoy God himself, and he valued knowledge about God simply as a means to this end. He wanted to understand God's truth in order that his heart might respond to it and his life be conformed to it."
I promise...If you take the time to read this book you will be on your way to knowing and enjoying God and having a heart that responds to His truth and a life that is conformed to it....And there you will most certainly find REST. 
The last few weeks have been full of spending time with people who love God and to be able to know them and the God that they love is absolutely refreshing. 
I hope this spring has been this for you too! If not...It's not too late! Today, dig in. Seek Him! 

Babies and Birthdays

The baby shower for my friend Heidi was so much fun! There were people there that I haven't seen since before Christmas. As we enjoyed games, cakes, and watching Heidi open her gifts, it was one giant catch up session. 
I didn't bring a camera and I didn't pose for any pictures. Most of the days like that are left to be preserved by my memory. Sorry!
This week we've got another birthday to celebrate. It's my Mom's birthday. So far I'm planning to fix BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and the rest needs to be ironed out. 
Also on my mind is getting my things together for my time with Heidi. You'd think I'd have this "temporary" move thing down by now...I don't! Every time I start thinking about what I have to bring, what I don't need to bring, and what I'll wish I had brought. I'm starting to get a little nervous. 
Good thing I have other things to keep me from getting too worried. :) 
What's going on in your life this week? 
Did your weekend leave you feeling refreshed?