Close encounters

Well, our yard is about two-thirds of the way raked, and we have had some rainy days that have set us back a bit. Even so, there is a 100% improvement, and I can see the grass again! It has been relatively warm around here (our fruit trees have buds), so hopefully our grass will come out of dormancy soon. We have remnants of the burnt leave piles in our yard...large black circles, in no particular pattern. It looks as if we had multiple alien landings! Oh well, anything is better than a gazillion leaves, acorns, etc!! Our next project is to break out the tiller and get the garden ready for early spring!

Taking the bad with the good

I reek of smoke...from my head to my toes...my feet are throbbing, I have blisters on both hands, and when I get up from the chair, I am walking like I am 100 years old! I feel like I was run over by a bus...twice! What, you may ask, happened to me??? Luis and I worked in our yard all day! We have a very large yard (about 3 acres), with many trees...many deciduous trees...oaks, gum tree maples, and pecans...so in addition to the leaves, we have thousands of little acorns, and hundreds of gum tree seed pods everywhere. Not to mention a bunch of pine straw from the many southern pines in our yard, and that means pine cones, too. Luis and I were considering just lighting a match at one corner of the property, and letting it all burn, but we were afraid our home might go up in flames as well. So, he armed himself with the industrial blower, and I grabbed the rake, and we blew, and raked, and burned leaves and debris from 10:00am until dark, stopping only for a quick lunch break and an occasional glass of water. Most people would have just cut all the trees long ago (like after raking LAST year) but not us! Those trees, bare as they may be right now, are the most beautiful shade trees in the summer! It seems that the entire squirrel population of South Carolina lives in our trees, and feast on our acorns and pine cones. Our southern pines are in a row, spread out just perfectly for Coach Luis's soccer drills for the boys to weave in and out while dribbling the ball. So, we'll keep raking, and blowing and burning each year, keeping our minds dreaming of the breezy summers sipping sweet tea under the shade of our gorgeous trees. Here's a little glimpse of what keeps us raking...

details...

I am naturally a very inquisitive person...I may be quiet, but I am one who loves details and I pick up on everything! This can be a very good quality for a forensic scientist, a detective, or some other sleuth of that sort...but when it comes to the plans of God, I have to admit my curious, logical mind sometimes gets in the way! I have improved over the years...many lessons learned...some the hard way, and, more recently, some by learning to hear and trust God's voice. It's funny how I can strive to create a plan, but when I just learn to let God direct it, something miraculous happens...and a path that wasn't even visible yesterday, suddenly emerges right in front of my eyes.

We just today became members of a church that we have been going to for about 3 months! We are already seeing God's hand opening doors that no man can shut! (Hallelujah!!) I am also praying for miracles for my extended family, both on my side and Luis's...there are so many needs...but God is more than able! He has been so gracious to us, and we are so thankful to Him. My prayer is that God helps us to be real Christians...no sugar coating...no rose colored glasses...just REAL! I think the world has had enough "make it look like everything is perfect" Christians, who are really full of bitterness and empty on the inside. The time is getting short, and so many people's lives are hanging in the balance. 2009 is going to be a year of great harvest!! Get ready, get set, GO!

We had a nice Christmas at home and then later at Uncle David's house with he and Grandma Carmen. I am trying to figure out how to convert my video...so for now, you'll have to settle for pictures...unfortunately I took more video than pictures.

What Child is This?

It's Christmas Eve, and the house is quiet...everyone is asleep, and I am thinking with excitement toward tomorrow morning...the stockings have been stuffed and are hung...the presents are wrapped and tied...everything is ready. We had our traditional Christmas Eve...we read the Christmas Story from the Bible, and each opened one gift. We talked about God's gifts to us...love, peace, joy, forgiveness, and heaven. What an awesome gift, that He would leave the beauty and perfection of heaven for each one of us. His motivation was sheer love and a desire for the Father to be reconciled with the creation that he so deeply cares for. Pastor Kevin spoke this past week about the "discussion" in Heaven when God was creating the world...Desiring to have fellowship and communion with mankind...knowing that he would give us free will, which gives us freedom to choose to love Him, as well as the freedom to sin...knowing we would need a Savior to rescue us from that sin...and Jesus stepping up during the conversation and saying "I'll go, send Me", all before man was even formed out of the dust of the ground. What an amazing plan...what total sacrifice...what great love. What child is this? This was not an ordinary child...this was and is Emmanuel...God with us...I AM...the one who was...who is...and who is to come! Happy Birthday Jesus...thank you for being the greatest gift of all.