Let Go by Sheila Walsh

I just finished reading " Let Go live free of the burdens all women know" - by Sheila Walsh and published by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I would recommend this book if you are feeling burdened by the bad news that is hammered our way daily about the world. According to Sheila our vision is clouded by the heaviness of the past and the stress of the present. She advises learning to let go of these worries and let God prove his love by trusting in his goodness. Sheila wants women to feel free on their faith journey and walk proudly knowing we are all God's creations. If someone worries about their physical looks she suggests "letting go of what we wish was true and learning to accept what is true." There are many examples from Sheila's life that serve to illustrate her message and show God's hand in how things turn out. She offers spiritual quotes from the bible at the beginning of the chapters and probing questions to help women critically think about their decisions. Part self help and part spiritual this if a good read for all people but especially women.

Blueberrries:nature's super fruit!

Blueberries come in many varieties but we settled on the 'SharpBlue' and O'Neal because they are supposed to be delicious and easy to grow. The botanical name is ' Vaccinium corymbosum ' and they are a nutrious addition to the garden. One of my gardening friends said to plant them with peat moss on the bottom of the hole and some orchid bark on the top of the surface so I'll have to give that a try!

Snow Peas Germinated

Great gardening news. The snow peas planted LAST MONTH germinated and poked their heads throught the soil on Sat. Feb. 28th. I was afraid they had drowned with the over 17 inches of rain that fell during Feb. Looking forward to see how this cultivar grows. Have you planted any seed yet?

Feb. Dream Gardens

My dear gardening friend, Sunshine, and I picked our dream plants today over coffee. They are Forsythia, Lilacs in pink, purple, and white, the Snowball Bush, and lots of Wysteria draping through the lath house. These are all plants that remind us of our youth and other gardens in long ago time. Aye we were a wee bit wistful for those days of yore and the special people who tended our dream gardens so lovingly. Jesus thanks for all the flowers you let us enjoy. I forgot to add cherry trees to the dream garden.The cherry buds are almost ready to burst into bloom - so enjoy this picture of last year's glory and the blessings of the flowers of Spring.

"Think and Make It Happen"

Dr. Augusto Cury, a famous psychiatrist, writes about his "breakthrough program for conquering anxiety, overcoming negative thoughts, and discovering your true potential." There have been many books written on this subject but Dr. Cury offers a unique approach. He believes that Jesus Christ is the perfect example of someone who "thinks correctly." Someone who has learned to "think correctly" takes charge of their life, experiences emotions,and doesn't allow anything to get in the way of who they are. Jesus allows nothing to interfere with his course in life. Whether suffering or facing difficulties, Jesus models correct thinking.When faced with the poor, afflicted or downtrodden members of society he embraces them always seeing the hidden treasure in their hearts. One example is found in the Gospel of St John. An adulterous woman is brought before Jesus and the elders ask Jesus what should be done. Typically adultery was a crime punishable by stoning to death but Jesus couldn't possibly do that because it would go completely against his belief in forgiveness. Faced with a dilemma that seemed unresolvable, Jesus did something unusual: he was silent.His silence allowed him to gather his wits and disarms his critics. After writing some words in the sand, he said: "If any one of you is without sin,let him be the first to throw the stone at her." Jesus invited his accusers to participate in the drama and remained true to his message. He took charge of the situation by "disarming [his] aggressors with the unexpected." I really enjoyed reading this book and appreciated Dr. Cury's insight into how we can learn a new way of thinking that will allow us to be free of anxiety and live our lives joyously like Jesus.

Angels and Dreams

Do you remember the scripture " The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream" from Matthew 1:20? Dreams can be powerful conduits for God's voice. So often we forget them and lose a powerful insight to ourselves and spiritual lives. Keeping a dream journal is a lovely way to keep track of our dreams. Later I like to reflect on the meanings...some literal, but often very symbolic. Start the new year with a journal and record your dreams. Notice when God speaks to you. Here's to 2009!

Jack O' Lanterns

Aye- have you ever wondered where the tradition of carving a pumpkin came from? According to Irish mythology, there was once a greedy, cruel man named Jack who fooled the Devil twice! Stingy Jack was so cheap that he asked the Devil to turn into a sixpence and Jack would pay their bar bill. Stingy Jack pocketed the coin and placed it next to a silver crucifix. The devil couldn't change back into his original form until he agreed to leave Jack alone for the next year. So the devil agreed and left Jack alone. Stingy Jack kept up his drinking and carousing. One dark evening, the devil appeared along Stingy Jack's path and once again was fooled by his lies. " Go up in the apple tree devil and bring us a nice juicy apple" said Jack.The Devil foolishly slithered up the tree and picked some fruit. Meanwhile Stingy Jack carved a cross at the foot of the tree and the Devil was stuck! This time Jack made him promise to leave his soul alone for ten years if he wanted to get down from the tree. Well once again, the devil was forced to agree. Less than ten years passed and Jack's drunkeness caught up to him and he died a miserable death. St. Peter wouldn't let him in through the pearly gates because Stingy Jack was a miserable, cruel, worthless being beyond redemption.The devil had made the promise back at the apple tree and couldn't let Jack into Hell but he took pity on Stingy Jack and tossed him a burning ember from the depths of Hell. Turnips being plentiful in Ireland, Jack placed the hot coal inside a turnip and carved out a face. Jack was left to wander the world for the rest of eternity. When the Irish immigrated to America they found the native pumpkin and began carving " Jack O' Lanterns" to place at their front doors on all Hallow's Eve to ward off the evil spirits.As for Stingy Jack... he's a wandering spirit on his never-ending journey caught between Hell and Heaven. So now you know why we carve pumpkings on Halloween!