~A New Spring~

Slowly, we have been watching the snow disappear more and more from the fields through our bedroom window.
     All around it seems as though Spring were holding its breath, waiting for Winter to be truly over. Ever so slowly, nature is creeping to life once more. Each day the sun grows a little warmer, touching the cold Earth with its life-giving rays of hope. Seeds, holding the promise of new life, wait patiently below the frigid soil for the day when they can stretch out in flashes of pale green after months of waiting.
     The song birds are returning once more, bringing with them their sweet melodies, filling the fresh, Spring air with songs of praise. A thick blanket of fog spills gracefully down the mountain and settles into the valley below.
     The arrival of a new Spring will soon be complete. I will know it has arrived as I lay on my bed at night. It will be that first night, when the cool, still, night air carries on it the chirping sound of pond peepers to my bedroom window as I drift off to sleep.

~Let's Talk~

There is a trait in the human race, which I fear has succumbed to an endangered state. Oh, it is still out there; I've seen it. But, much to the sorrow of this country and our individual souls, it appears to have gotten harder to come by. Folks, I'm talking about INTEGRITY. If you look up the definition, it means "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, moral uprightness" and "the state of being whole and undivided". With that thought in mind I ask you, who are you when no one is looking? When you find $50 laying in the parking lot, do you take it to the customer service desk? How about $20?  $5? $1? Or how about when you stop at a gas station and the cashier rings up your total. You realize she didn't charge you for your pack of gum. What do you do?
     Or, if  you are slighted in public, do you brush it off, but then "lay into" family members at home for an equal or lesser offense? Are you "divided" or are you the same person "out there" as you are in your home? Do you put on a facade in public then take it off coming through your front door? Or are you the same ''across the board"? Are you as patient with family as with friends? Ouch, that last one hurt. C.H. Spurgeon said:

"You must know that it is at home that you are what you really are."

The idea of integrity goes to the very heart of a person. What is right, and what is wrong? Is wrong to you wrong, or just a little wrong? What do you believe in? What do you stand for? Do you only stand for "right" when it is easy? Do you back down, fold, give in, or join in when standing for what is true and right means you will be the only one standing?

   I don't know about you, but I'm sick of cheap imitations. Imitations in many respects, but most grievous to me is fake integrity. "Fake" people. Let's all hang onto being real, true, honest and reliable people. There was a time when a man would shake on a deal, and then bend over backwards to keep his word, because his word had more worth than a carefully drawn up contract. Let's all look into the mirror, ask ourselves the hard questions, and let's get real.

I thought it fitting to post this song here. If you've never heard it, it is definitely worth listening to!

Redneck Technology

Redneck Garmin:

Oh yeah! Anyone out there still use this good ol' method? LOL.

~Abraham Lincoln~

"The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation is the philosophy of government in the next."

~Abraham Lincoln 

~Just A Little Talk~

"If The power of God cannot be seen in your life leading you to greater and greater holiness, then maybe there is no power of God in your life."

~Paul Washer

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 

Philippians 1:6 

God always finishes what He starts, the question is then, not will He finish, but did He start?

"The horizontal validates the vertical." ~Anon.

In other words, your life and relationships on Earth are evidence of your relationship with Christ, whether that evidence proves you are truly Christian or not. That does not mean that if you are Christian that you do not sin. Sadly, Christians do still sin. The difference is that when you do, it deeply effects you, like a knife in the heart and you ask forgiveness and continue to grow more and more Christ-like. None of us will be perfect this side of Heaven, but we are to strive to be and to continue to grow. Not so that we may say "Oh look, I'm better than this or that person." Certainly not! But that the name of our God might be glorified and honored.

  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Have a good Saturday!

   

Jack and the Beans-Talk

Big Boy: "Mama, beans?" Pointing to green beans on his plate.

Me: "Yes, those are beans."

Big Boy: Shaking his head "No, beans away. Beans away." And with that he buried them deep into his mashed potatoes, as if I'd never know... LOL!

~Life With Littles~...

Means days when "wanting it all" has nothing to do with fame or fortune, and everything to do with brushing your hair, getting dressed, and having the laundry, dishes, cooking and housework done- all in the same day! *Gasp!*

Farmer's Vocation

"We farmers have the most sacred, noble vocation on the Earth." ~Joel Salatin

Progress Comes With A Price

"There is a moral emptiness that comes when we are deprived of the satisfaction of doing things for ourselves." ~Eric Sloane, The Seasons of America Past

I think anyone who has grown a garden, tapped a maple tree, raised a backyard flock of chickens, milked a cow/goat, knitted a dishcloth, sewed an apron, changed the oil in their car, baked bread, or watched their homeschooled child graduate and blossom in the world, knows that feeling of satisfaction.

Some Good Quotes

"The Secret to getting ahead is to get started."

~Mark Twain

"Someone is happy with less than what you have."

~Unknown

 Have a good day all!

Love Life?

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

~Benjamin Franklin  

Apple Blossoms

Chicken gazing

Potatoes, gravy, cheesy broccoli and breaded chicken

 Big Boy and great-Gramp Smith

 First blossoms

 I'm being trailed by friends

Wise Advice

"Never do anything you would be afraid to do if you knew it was the last hour of your life."

You Know You're A Mother When...

You forget how hot a fresh cup of coffee used to be and you burn your mouth. 

Four Months

Jackson had his four month appointment. He is healthy and weighs 16lbs 6 oz. Now he can have baby food.

Here is his first time eating baby food!

Grammies...

...Are the reason mothers live to be grandmothers. A big thank you to all the Grammies out there!

Words of Wisdom For a Fast-Paced World

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, that I had not lived."
~Henry David Thoreau

Yes, I suffer from OCD...

 Yes, I suffer from OCD,

Over Cluttered Disorder.

Going through things, and giving them away is the best treatment. So that is what I'm doing.

I don't know

I don't know if it is how my kitchen looks now, or if it is all the products I've used.

But my current disposition could accurately be described as 

HIGH.

Either way, works for me.