It's a wonderful world!

With all that is going on in the world due to the repercussions of the COVID-19 era, I’ve felt it extra important to back up from it all, sit on my front porch, and just look out and ask God for a fresh perspective on life and the world.

He is faithful to bring me back to the basics. To just look out and see the natural beauty and beautiful blue sky. Taking notice of the pretty butterfly fluttering by. And to look up and ask God how can I not take sides in a divided world, but rather, stand up as an individual for love. Show love. Be love and kindness to all.

Isn’t that the most important thing? To receive love from Him and then give it out?!

What if that was what actually softened the divide. What if that actually was what healed our land?

That is something I can do. It’s a wonderful world we live in and I’m thankful I get to live in it.

Add to your List...

I don’t know what I’d do without my calendar and lists.

If I didn’t have them, I would forget tasks that needed to be done that day, appointments I had, kid and grandkid event times, stuff I’m to order for my projects, days I’m supposed to clean my Airbnb for the next guests, groceries I’m out of, etc..

And the fun thing about lists is I get to check them off at the end of the day. Giving me a sense of accomplishment.

I had the idea today during my quiet time in the morning as I was being spoken to in the Scriptures, to add what spoke to me that morning in my quiet time to my daily list.

For example today, it was this scripture:

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” -Proverbs 16:24

Words can be so hurtful or they can bring LIFE. We have all been on both sides of uplifting words and discouraging words.

I want to bring LIFE with my words to any and everyone I’m talking to. From those I’m closest with, to absolute strangers.

I began thinking “Oh I hope I remember this throughout the day!”

And it occurred to me, why not put this reminder in my calendar and on my list?

Incorporate it into my day as something that is actually as important as going to Trader Joe’s, because it is!

Anything that will help me to be full of liove and kindness is worth doing. So I’m going to give this a try!

Lot's and Lot's of Reasons

There are sometimes lots and LOTS of reasons why NOT to do something.

Yet sometimes it seems like we just should. There are some times where you sense it is even God saying, your going to wish you had done this even though there are obstacles.

In October and November of 2018, I was at the tale end of finishing up the cottages I was building. A cottage for us to move in to and a little Airbnb i would run. My heart was tied up in all this and every detail mattered because I was able to design these cottages from scratch and certainly wanted to be there for the last couple weeks during the final details.

Well we had an Israel trip planned before I had all this underway. It was a trip that seemed super special because it was my three guys that were going to be leading it. My husband Jon, my oldest son P.J. and youngest son Ben.

With all that goes on at the church and the way my son Ben travels the world teaching everywhere, this was a very rare thing for them to be together for two weeks teaching in Israel. But as excited as I was for this, I remember talking to Jon about wether I shouldn’t go because of all the pressing things I had going on. And I would literally be moving the day after I got back.

I remember us saying there might be a “next time” the boys could do this again together, maybe I should wait for that.

But there was something in my heart that I knew I was supposed to go. And on this occasion, I actually did what I felt I was supposed to do. I went to Israel.

I am sure glad I did. Those two weeks we spent together like that, hearing my three guys teaching together and laughing together, is something I will always treasure. And as it turns out, there wouldn’t be another opportunity to do it again this side of heaven.

Listen to what God is speaking to your heart and go with it. You won’t regret it.

Ben, Jon, and Pete ~ Israel 2018

Thankful for your life P.J.

It’s hard to believe it’s nearly a month since my son P.J. took his last breath on this earth and his first in heaven.

Sometimes life is tough isn’t it?! Sometimes tears just flow. But how is it that God still brings just that perfect peace that only HE can bring? He just does.

The understanding that God has written a wondrous story for each of us is remarkable. He’s made a plan that when we are all put together as the human race, those that are walking with Him in beauty and abide in LOVE, we become a picture of who He is and understand Him more specifically.

My son P.J. (Whom I’ve had the honor of being his Mom since he was 8 through 42) has played a valiant roll.

Through so much physical suffering … there was never one complaint. Not one.

But rather a continual pointing to Our Savior. An ambassador and incredible speaker of GRACE continually.

Peter-John is a picture of a loving Father and Husband. Actually that to perfection I might add.

He’s seen heaven in a near death experience… a place of dancing. A place of pure fun with meaning. A place where his beautiful Mom, Sister, Grammy, Papa Merle, Nana, has already arrived safely.

He wasn’t at all afraid to join in on the party.

I love Peter. I’m so proud of Peter. I miss Peter. Period.

Thank you for all your love and prayers. We all feel it.

And to sweet Pete. I love and miss you so very much. ‘Til Heaven…

Me as a new Mom with Jessie and P.J…I never would’ve guessed both would beat me to heaven

Just had taken Peter to get his license at 16 years old

The whole family: Me, Joh, Peter, Christy, Jessie, Mary, and Benny … so blessed!

Love my family so much! Sadie, Lula, Peter, Amanda, Jon, Bailey, and Char

Me and Pete in Israel

Christmas Dinner Taco’s 2019 in my back yard with all of us together…

Last picture of me and P.J. (Bailey snapped with her plaroid camera)

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

"A Rose is a Rose is a Rose" is the saying.

It is a true saying for sure and does make a great point, BUT depending on where the rose came from dictates how much that rose touches our hearts. It can sometimes make our heart beat faster  or bring a warm and precious emotion within depending on where it came from. 

Ive been so blessed to have received many bouquets of flowers from my husband, my kids, and my friends. The roses in those bouquets have very rich  meaning.  Every time I walk by those flowers or catch the beautiful fragrance, my heart is warmed and I am touched in a special way.

This particular rose pictured here though was given to me by... drum roll please... An oil stop dude. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I didn't know his name nor did he know mine. I imagine the owner of the oil stop had a great idea, Tuesdays being a slower day, let's make it girls day and for every women that comes in, give her a rose and a discount.

Now while I think this is a great idea, and I try and go on Tuesdays for the discount and the flower, when I see this rose I think how pretty it is and I can enjoy it, but it doesn't warm my heart and it certainly doesn't make my heart beat any faster.  I'm aware they bought bulk flowers having no clue who these flowers were going to be going to that day.

So too, beautiful people, As we look around at creation and see the flowers budding on the trees in the spring or the majestic leaves color in the fall... Anyone certainly can enjoy it, but once we are aware of WHO put them there for us to enjoy KNOWING it was for OUR EYES that were going to experience it and realizing it was put there for specifically ME... It has a whole lot more meaning. 

In fact when I see creations glory, I know that the God who's very name is LOVE, created that for ME... Oh when I walk past these colorful trees, or take in the scent of the budding flowers, my heart is DEEPLY touched.

God didn't create bulk flowers for a random and generic group of people. He created every specific and glorious thing for every single individual alive. 

Know today as you see our Fathers beauty that it is for YOU today.  Let it touch and move you and draw you closer to our Loving Creator.

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”

— 1 Timothy 4:4

Primo Path

Lithia Park - Ashland Oregon

There are many paths we can take.  We can take paths of regret. Or we can take the path of life.

Like for example the path of regret can be the path of gossip, listening to gossip, defending ourselves, putting others down, thinking about ourselves and not others, cheating, lying, deceit, bad attitudes, grumpiness, disbelief, negativity, hatred, etc... 

It's interesting how often we take this path and justify  it to ourselves thinking we will beat the "system," but because it is God that put the "system" into place, and He has told us this way WILL NOT benefit us even if there is temporarily a sense that the path is working for us... it will not end up working for us at all. no exception. 

God forgives. That's the good news. 

So let's talk about the other path we can take.  It's the path of Faith, Hope, And Charilty.

It's the path of life. It's realizing GOD is with us today and we get to live it with HIM.  It's trusting God will be our defender. It's finding the best in others. It's loving even our enemies. It's being truthful.  it's having a good attitude full of good cheer, it's lifting up our concerns for ourselve to God and trusting HIM with our lives (He proves Himself faithful every time), and then caring for others and showing love for others and putting our energy into others. etc... 

Let's take the path that is beautiful. 

“And now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:13

Plant Goodness

Jacksonville Oregon

My husband and I went for a drive the other evening in his cool Jeep Wagoneer. We drove around admiring the beauty of spring in Jacksonville together. 

Jon in his wagoneer 🤙🏻

One of the things I noticed was where people took the time to plant vineyards or flowers and the like, there were not weeds there.  Because when you plant something beautiful, it's much harder for ugly weeds and thorns to grow. The beautiful things choke out the ugly things.

This made me begin to think about where the Scriptures say:

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

— Galatians 6:9

Rather than leave dry soil in our lives spiritually, making it easier for unkindness, worry, jealousies, or wrong thoughts to grow in our heart and soul... we can rather be proactive and plant goodness.

We can plant good and right things by taking in his Word and worshipping Him. 

We can plant good thoughts, do kind acts, say loving things. We can fill ourselves and speak to ourselves words of faith, hope, and love. Instead of picking out the worst in others, we can pick out the best in others.

When we plant these things, and not grow weary in doing so, we WILL reap good and godly things back into our lives.

This is very nice motivation to plant good things in our lives. 

God's Listening

Baby Ev has so much to say! 

I just got back from staying with my grandson Ev while my daughter Mary, Shea, and baby girl Rel went to a wedding in Portland, Oregon.  Hanging with Everett is one of my favorite things to do.

Ev is learning his words but doesn't know that many yet. You can tell by his expressions and the passion in which he says his almost words that he feels a lot but is unclear how to express it just yet. 

In a nutshell, it sometimes seems like Ev is speaking" gibberish." Even though I don't fully understand him, I try to catch what he is trying to say because I want to understand what he is trying to express and I just love him so much.

If you are like me...I can sometimes feel like when I talk to God I am just speaking "gibberish" too. But God wants to listen to us.  He wants us to talk to Him, even if it would not make sense to one other person. 

And the great thing about our Father in Heaven who listens to us, He actually understands fully what we are trying to say or ask.  And the other amazing thing is He has 100% ability and desire to bring about what is truly beautiful and beneficial in and for our lives.

So let's talk to God even if it seems like we are just speaking gibberish, because He hears us and loves us so very much.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

— Jeremiah 29:12