Hello.

It is June. How did that happen? I realize the last time I posted was in April, but I haven't really abandoned the blog. I'm just up in the air. Feeling a little discombobulated.

There have been several things going on and one big thing not going on. Our house has not sold yet. That has really sent me reeling. I totally thought that once it went on the market we would be out of here. That hasn't happened.

So we are weighing our options. Seeking the will of God. Waiting on His leading. Wondering what our next step is.

I covet your prayers in this situation. We will need another mind set if we are to stay here. And, of course, we need a buyer if we are to move.

So, I don't think I will begin posting again regularly until I know what we are going to do. But I could be wrong. Summer may inspire me to get back to it. Several things have happened lately that I almost posted about. As with everything, let's just wait and see.

Is It You?

I could easily have written this, but I didn't. Robin did. And I'm so glad she did.

In case it is you are the one who needs to read it, here it is.

Tuesday's Tip

Today's Tip: listen to the Word of God

I read my Bible. I enjoy reading my Bible. Most everyone I know who cares about the Bible, reads the Bible. My suggestion to you today is to listen to the Bible.

A couple of month ago I heard on the radio about Faith Comes By Hearing. If you go to their web site, you will read this:

Our mission statement is to record and use heart-language Audio Bibles to bring His church together and make disciples from every nation, tribe, language, and people.

And this:

Faith Comes By Hearing offers the world’s largest catalog of Audio Bibles to individuals and nations who hunger to hear. Offering every person on our planet equal access to the Bible requires meeting the unique needs of generations, technical societies, and fast-paced lifestyles. It also means meeting the cultural and literacy challenges presented when working in underdeveloped countries. Faith Comes By Hearing is rising to meet the biblical needs of a complex world through modern technology.

If you go here, you will see some of what they offer.

I decided to spend lent listening to the New Testament. I chose to download a dramatic reading for that purpose. I have read and studied the Bible for some years now. I in no way claim to be a scholar. I just mean that I have read certain parts of it several times. I put the download on my Zune and began listening regularly.

Can I just say, "Wow!" Especially the gospels. Having someone speak the words to me brought it to life in a way that I didn't expect. They use different voices for different people. Hearing Jesus say the words to me, even as an actor, just seemed more real to me than it ever has before.

I cannot say enough about experiencing the Word of God in this way. If you have an mp3 player, download one of the free versions they have available. If not, you can order it in another form.

You will also notice that I now have a button on the sidebar of the blog. Go check it out.

Tuesday's Tip

Today's Tip: get to know a bee wrangler.

OK, so this may not be something you ever really need to do, but let me tell you, when you need one, it's really handy if their kids are friends with your kids and she'll run right over and take care of things. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

My daughter and I spent a good deal of this glorious day outside. We planted a few things, watered a few things, and did some reading in the grass. We retired inside to contemplate dinner. About an hour later I went outside and found this:

That is my mailbox. With a beard of bees. They all arrived in the hour we were in the house. Amazing.

Fortunately, the mail had already come, so I didn't need to disturb them to find all of the fascinating sales fliers my mailman brought me.

Enter the Bee Wrangler. I haven't known Jennifer long, but our kids are friends. I called her up and she be-bopped right over.

Can I just say, "Wow." I have never seen this process. I am bee phobic enough to be more than a little freaked out at the thought of being in a little net tent with hundreds of bees, even with the protective gear. But Jennifer is brave. Jennifer is experienced. Jennifer went right to work.

She has this cute little bee box that she hooks up to a Shop Vac looking thing. She gently sucks them up and they land into their temporary home. When she gets to the queen in the middle of all the bees, she unhooks the vacuum and holds the house in her lap. She then gets the queen on her finger and puts her in the box being careful not injure her.

The process isn't quite complete yet. She left that little box leaning up against the mailbox. There were quite a few bees that were still airborne and didn't make it into the box. She said they will land there and then quit flying after dark. She will come back by and just pick it up and take them home. She will relocate to them a new hive tomorrow.

I now know more about bee habits than I ever dreamed. It really is fascinating. But I'll leave the bee wrangling to Jennifer. I'll stick to my safe spot on the porch. : )

Has Your Spring Sprung?

I've read around the blogosphere that many of you have little seedlings doing their thing. We here in Houston and SE Texas are full on into spring.

And let me tell you, it is hard to be a proper Southern lady and keep my white shoes and pants in the closet until after Easter when it comes this late and the weather is this lovely.

I thought I would show you what we have going on in our little patch of earth these days.


The little snapdragons are really going after it.


The fig tree is busting out all over.


The bougainvillea is magnificent, even though you can still see a little burn damage on the leaves from the freezes that we get off and on.



My little cherry tomatoes are setting up nicely.


Although this is not a great picture, my lemon tree is covered in little lemons. If half of them make it, it will be my biggest crop ever.

How does your garden grow?

Red Envelope Day

I don't know if you have heard about this event, but I am participating and wanted to give you the opportunity to if you wish. I can explain it no better than one of the web sites promoting the event.

Here is what I would like you to do:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

DON'T FORGET YOUR RETURN ADDRESS. THEY WON'T BE DELIVERED WIHOUT IT.

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail on March 31st, and send it. Then send this website to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

For some more information, check here.

You may remember that a little over a year ago we spent some time in California getting Beloved Nephew married off.

Well, time passes and things change. Last Friday that happy couple turned into a happy family.

This is the sweet face of the product of their union.



She has a beautiful name that I won't share with you here. ; ) I'll come up with a blog name for her soon. I'm sure you'll be hearing lots about her in the months to come. (Provided I start posting again.) *sigh*

Tuesday's Tip

First, let me apologize for being so absent. There is just too much. I hope to be better soon.

But that's not why you came.

Today's Tip: go halfsies.

I understand better than anyone that it is so hard to just do it. I love my sugar. I love my baked goods the way I am used to them. I like my sweet tea... well... sweet! What's a girl to do?

Go halfsies!

I still drink sweet tea, but instead of using all the sugar I used to, I use half the sugar I used to use and half stevia. It is still just as sweet but with less sugar. (BTW, don't replace the sugar with the stevia spoonful for spoonful. You only need a fraction of the stevia to get the same sweetness. You may have to play with it to get it just the right taste for you.)

When I make rolls, I use half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat. With some things I bake I use all whole wheat, but some things just need white flour. Of course, I do use unbleached flour. I don't have a problem with things not being bright white.

If you want fewer carbs but can't stomach a plate of meat and lettuce, eat an open-faced sandwich or hamburger.

Eat one cookie instead of two.

The point is, don't give up if you don't want to go all the way. Go halfway. It will make a difference. Every little bit helps you down the road to getting closer every day!

Tuesday's Tip

It occurred to me today that I have told you what not to use on your skin, but I haven't offered you any alternatives. Today I will!

One of the things I use on my face is jojoba oil. Now, technically, jojoba oil is not an oil at all. It is a wax that is liquid at room temperature. But that's good. It's not oily on your face once you put it on. It is quickly absorbed into the skin.

Also, jojoba is chemically very similar to the natural oils in your skin. In fact, it is the most similar of all natural compounds. One theory is that it "tricks" your skin into thinking it has produced enough oil that it balances oil production.

Fortunately, it is also very stable and doesn't get rancid. I have had the same 4 ounce bottle for a couple of years now. A little goes a long way.

In addition to moisturizing your skin, it also is excellent at removing make-up and moisturizing your hair and scalp.

You can pick up a 4 ounce bottle of jojoba oil for about $10. If you want organic, you can usually find it for about $14. And like I said, a little goes a long way. Use it sparingly until you now how much you need.

On Facebook, Blogging, and the End Times

Do you Facebook?

I do. Too much. But what fun it is. I have gotten in touch with some friends I have known as far back as elementary school. I'm friends with people I used to see weekly and now not so much. Both good friends and casual friends. I love seeing that little box on the bottom of my screen that tells me which of my friends are actively on-line. I have only chatted a couple of times, but I get such a kick out of just seeing that we are surfing together. I would much prefer to hang out or have lunch or visit over tea, but that is too often not even an option.

And then there is the whole blogging thing. Don't we all just love comments: evidence that we are being heard? We visit each other's blogs like we are stopping over at a friend's. We chat about our kids and how we made this fabulous dinner. We give each other helpful hints. We delight in the little peeks into each other's lives and homes. It's like our own little neighborhood.

The other night at Bible Study, Beth was going on about something unrelated to where I am headed and read a verse that just stopped me. It was Hebrews 10:23-25. Here it is:

²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I have read these verses before, but the last one in particular meant something different this time.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What is "the Day"? If you read that passages in some other translations, you won't need an explanation. It is translated the way Paul intended it: the day of His return. That "His" would be Jesus. (He is coming for us, you know!)

The verse is encouraging us to do is something that I believe many of us are already feeling the urge to do - gather together. We seem to have a new feeling to get back in touch with others. To be close in all the ways we can.

Not that I haven't always tried to keep up with some people. We exchange Christmas cards and get together at reunions and special events. But now we have the opportunity to "meet" in ways that were not until recently an option. I think it is very timely.

I don't know what your thoughts on the End Times and the eminence of Jesus' return for us are. Whether you think He is coming soon or not in our lifetime, we are still in the End Times. Everything between when He was here the first time and when He comes for His flock is considered the End Times. We have been living in the End Times for 2,000 years. I do happen to be one of the many who believe that He can't leave us here much longer. In any case, we are closer to the end of the End Times than we have ever been before. It is time to make sure we are gathering.

I am the consummate loner. I have always liked to be alone. The things I like to do are mostly things that I can do by myself. I could be a hermit with very little encouragement. However, when I was struck with my anxiety awhile back, I think it was more than just hormones and an unusual family situation. God really used that time in my life to teach me about community.

Most people with anxiety that I have read about shun other people when they are in its throws. They tend to isolate themselves and avoid any place where there may be more than just a few people. I had the opposite reaction. I think the anxiety must be counter to your instincts. I mean, most people love to go out to eat or to a party or hang out at the mall and just get out. When anxiety strikes them, they hide. I would be perfectly happy within the confines of my own 4 walls most days of my life. When I was dealing with anxiety, I wanted to go ANYWHERE where there would be people. Any. Where. I didn't need to talk to anyone necessarily. I just needed to know they were there.

With God's help, I have gotten over (most) of the debilitating aspects of the anxiety. And while I don't have that constant need to be around people like I did when I thought I was going to burst into flames at any given moment, I enjoy and seek out people a thousand times more than I did before. I think it's important. I think it's what we are supposed to do. I think we are to gather.

Don't fight the urge to get together with like minded people. If an idea occurs to you, go with it. Ask a few girlfriends over to knit the afternoon away. Go volunteer to cook dinner for the youth. Take an elderly neighbor to run errands. Just get out there and get together. And by all means, if you are not in a church community, find one!

Be an encouragement to others. The Day is approaching!