Eager Expectation!

For I live in eager expectation and hope that I
will never do anything that causes me shame,
but that I will always be bold for Christ,
as I have been in the past, and that my life
will always honor Christ, whether I live or die.
Philippians 1:20
Paul's words offer such hope to me. Earlier in chapter one he says, in effect, 'everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News'...he goes on to explain to his brothers and sisters in Christ, ' because of my imprisionment, many of the Christians here have become more bold in telling others about Christ'. His focus is always on Jesus and His work. What does it mean to live in 'eager expectation'? I thank my gracious Father for the joy of living life in the Spirit...instead of that old feeling of walking a tightrope, scared to look down for fear of falling...holding both hands over my mouth for fear of total lack of self-control... that uneasy, barely holding on, when will my ugliness rear its' head again fear...that frantic covering of ungodliness...there is JOY! Crazy, FREE J-O-Y! When He is in control there is eager expectation...What awesome thing has He prepared for us to complete next? What opportunity will He give me to serve Him today? When that opportunity comes, I can relax in Him, knowing that He had this well under His control before I was even born. I can open my mouth and listen to His words in 'eager expectation'! I can praise Him for His love for me, because I know He has prepared me for just such a moment. I challenge myself first today...don't let satan steal your joy with self-focus. Fasten your eyes on Him, knowing that He is your saving grace. He is your all in all. He is the giver of crazy, free JOY! As my sister Ruth always said, 'I just love Him so much! Bless His sweet Name.'

the wonder of neem and a good man...

I'm just going to tap out a few lines while everyone is snoozing...I love the peace and quiet. It's a joy to be able to reflect on the week gone by and enjoy the coolness of the house. In the pics below Brenna and the puppy really are sleeping together on the floor...I just took that one a moment ago. I couldn't wait to share it. :)


What a wonderful day it was...what a wonderful week it was!!! Lavon and I taught the 3-year-olds at VBS and some of them prayed to receive Christ...Ava got to come over for a sleepover...Candace was so sweet to come in for me on Friday....the girls had a wonderful time having a sleepover a Grandma and Grandpa's house...and their mother had a great time with some very sweet girlfriends! :0) Can't wait to see those pics, Alisha!! :):) Brenna babysat for Norm and Danni's new puppy today while they went to a reunion.The puppy has had a bath with neem oil and is fluffy and sweet. Daddy, Lydia, Brenna, and the puppy all needed a nap after that!:) Neem oil has been an amazing blessing at our house. We LOVE our neem oil bath products! ONE application of oil took care of every aphid in the greenhouse! It has so many uses...today we mixed up some mean, flea killing, dog shampoo. (baby shampoo with some of the straight oil that I bought for the greenhouse) We washed up the puppy...and it worked! I also read that it is a great treatment for head-lice...ummm...hopefully we will not have to find out. :) I am continually amazed at the way my Father works things out so awesomely. I had been trusting Him for an organic insecticide, and He's showing me that this wholesome natural way of living goes a lot farther than just growing the food He provides.

Happy Father's Day to our Fearless Leader...I love you, my sweet man. :) You are so good to the girls and I...thank-you for being such a humble, godly leader in our home. All that AND a quirky sense of humor...oh, how I love life with you. Your provision and protection of our family makes it so sweet.

My Joy is the LORD...

I waited patiently for the LORD:

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he sat my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear and put there trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:1-3

There is my life a nutshell. I am so beyond thrilled to hop onto the blogging carousel! A whole new way to give my Savior the praise he so deserves....a beautiful way to document my family's journey to holiness...a testimony of gardening by faith. Since January, we have been on a new path, consisting of adoption plans, heirloom seeds, a new hoop house, and lots of working with Jesus on our faith in our Provider.

I love the parallels that I see in my gardening and my mothering. I am inspired to keep on "working the dirt " in my children's lives as I see my Father growing my tomatoes so brilliantly, answering my desperate prayers with miracles when I don't know how to handle the black rot that is taking over the grapes that have been in my family for generations. I am filled with releif and joy in His provision in our lives and in the garden. I adore the way He works in my husband's life, to show him how much he is loved. I am enthralled as I see His hand over my childern. I am anticipating with joy to see how He is working the adoption that has been so long in coming. I love the bumps in every path that insure closer walk with Him. There is nowhere I would rather be than in the arms of my Saviour.

The man who married my husband and I, shared a suggestion that I thank God for. He asked that we would choose a particular Scripture to pray over our marriage and our lives. He suggested that we base our new marriage on Psalm 1-1-3.

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is llike a tree planted by streams of water,

which yeilds its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

We also chose to add new Scriptures as we grow and see our lives change. Praying Scripture holds such sweetness for the beleiver, doesn't it? Praise Him! Thank you, Father for working all things for our good and for your Glory. May your glory be my first priority in all things. Thank you for being the Master Gardener in all the areas of my life. Only You, O LORD, only You.