You are a Lone Reed

Sometimes I truly question why I do "What" I do...Especially this last month....


While watching "You've Got Mail"...I always hear myself in every one of Meg Ryan's lines in that movie!

"What is it that I do exactly"? "All I really do is run a store"! ( of course this is Meg answering her own questions!)
"You are a Lone Reed" was the answer she received..... from her boyfriend.
"I am a lone reed...I am a lone reed".....
and Meg ponders.....
"Sometimes I wonder about my life..it's valuable, but small...do I do it because I like it or because I'm brave? Sometimes I want to throw that question out there...but who am I sending it to? She said to a cosmic void...

As much as I love this movie..and for as many times that I've watched it and quoted it...I'm so very thankful that indeed...there is nothing cosmic or void about it nor is there anything small about what I do!

I often have these exact same thoughts and at times let it get the best of me! The most recent example is me being quite worried about my own life and how I've spent it! Not too long ago a customer innocently made the remark about how she couldn't believe that someone would start working while she still had young children! Of course my heart and soul cringed within and sweet Pattie assured me that I had not neglected my children, especially my youngest.
Why I felt the need to compare myself to this person my customer was referring to is beyond me! But I do, and I did! It's quite impossible not to! I try way too hard to be everything to everybody and as of today...am realizing I can't do it! I'm only responsible to God, my husband and my family and myself. Why I make myself go through these "hoops" that I create in my own mind is ridiculous!

While fretting over my youngest son Miller on his spring break mission's trip...I've come to some pretty major...and yet very simple conclusions about life!

Number one being...If I say that I love the Lord with all of my heart  then I can rest assured that all that I do will fall into place if I'm truly seeking His will!


Secondly, there is nothing I can do to change what God has already planned for  my life...therefore, I need to quit worrying and fretting! That is very freeing to me!


Thirdly...all of this falls under a "vague" but real category in most of our lives..
I hit highs and lows as all of us do...that makes me real and it makes you real...I need to quit second guessing that! I just read an incredible book by Terri Blackstock that ended with this paragraph and I fell in love with it! I hope it will touch your heart as it did mine!
Talking about highs and lows in the writing life she says,


 " It's a roller coaster, that's the writing life! I love that roller coaster. It's the ride God gave me, and doing it for the Kingdom of God is a privilege. Theres a ride for you, as well, one that He chose for you before the foundation of the world. I hope you're on it!"


John 15:8 "My father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."


Find your gift and use it. Then enjoy the ride!


I don't know about you, but this just inspired me to make my ride really count! 


Much love,

Spring Forward!

 Spring Is Here!!! And I For One Am Loving It!!!

And soon... everything will be coming up roses!!!

Well, now that is a stretch but everything is coming up, that's for sure!

Mostly just everyday life! 

But just take a look around you! It's right there in all of our own back yards!

The beauty of Springtime!

The Roses, the Jasmine, the Day Lilies, the Dogwood trees, etc....

Aren't these climbing roses beautiful! These are actually in Brad's grandmother's yard...lovingly planted by Coach Walker...an avid gardener! I sure could've learned a lot from him! About a lot of things!

I just love his gardens...

And Easter is just around the corner! What a glorious reason to celebrate and trust in God's provisions for us!

There is really nothing prettier than any "climbing" flower in my opinion!

Especially my Cecile Brunner roses! I planted them ages ago and won't even re-paint our garden shed for fear of losing them!

And look at these snapdragons! They just make me happy!

The Dogwood is the ultimate symbol of Spring to me!

I love the fact that I actually do have perennials and that I'm learning what to do with them!

Oh, and then there are my fig trees! I'm definitely still learning about them!

Maybe one day I can make fig preserves! We shall see!

Love this one, lonely rose! It's trying so hard to bloom!

Reminds me of the saying, "Bloom where you are planted!"

Just like my hydrangeas that are struggling to come out of hibernation!

And our Lenten Roses! A breath of fresh air after a long season of nothingness!

And yes, I snuck this photo from my across the street neighbor's yard! Isn't it pretty?

 And here we go...finishing on this note! Spring time is to me what chocolate is to a lot of women! It's the time that I get to begin dreaming of my perfect garden! "One day"....that's what I always say to sweet Jim! "One day...I want the perfect garden!" What I've never realized until recently is that what I really want...is the perfect gardener! I love the look of a perfect garden!!! Who doesn't? 

Last year we dealt with this pesky little rabbit if you will remember!

Hopefully he will have moved on to another neighbor's yard this spring...but I doubt it! We shall see! For now I will still dream...and dream big!!! There is nothing wrong with that!!!!

Here is my dream garden!

Or should I say, "Dream Gardens"!

Enjoy!

Maybe this year we will have something to show for it!!!

Thankfully last year we at least had a few Zinnias!

And a few Tomatoes!

 No matter! Spring is a wonderful breath of fresh air to me! I hope it is to you as well! 

Happy planting! and enjoy every minute of God's beautiful creation...Spring Time!

When Life Gives You Lemons!

I thought about saying a lot about that title...and then I decided~  No! We are going to bake!
A long time ago I remember my sister, Andrea, making these glorious Lemon Sugar Cookies!
You know the saying...."When Life Gives You Lemons?"

It should end with ..."Make Lemon Sugar Cookies" in my opinion!
 I remembered that they were very good but I'm not a huge fan of making cookies. I'm also not a huge fan of desserts...and if I do choose them they would have to be chocolate or coffee or a combination of both! However...the older I get I can't seem to sleep very well if I have either of those luxuries very late at night...and very late at night is when my sweet tooth that seems to be hidden deep within comes alive! 

So...yesterday I was in the mood to bake...and I was really thinking about several things..one..it was a friends birthday and I wanted to make him a little something and it was also when Ellen was coming back to Mulberry after being gone for 17 days! I wanted to do something for both of them! Now my birthday boy just happens to have won the Iron Chef competition with Chris Hastings so admittedly, that's intimidating...and rightfully so! However, he is so kind I knew he wouldn't judge me too harshly! And Ellen, well you don't get much sweeter and Pattie and I have really missed her!

All of that to say...I decided to give these lucious Lemon Sugar Cookies another try!
I was very glad I did!!

And now I'm thinking I should add these lemon trees to my landscape? Oh wait...this is in Tuscany! Not sure how they would fare in my neck of the woods! I still may try it, though!
Hope you will give these cookies a try....I sure need to get them out of my house! I'm addicted now!!

 

Lemon Sugar Cookies


2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1/4-1/2 t salt
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 t lemon extract
2 C sugar
3 egg yolks


Cream butter, vanilla and lemon extract together until well blended. Gradually add sugar creaming until fluffy. Add egg yolk one at a time until well blended. Mix dry ingredients together and add to butter mixture in 1/4's....beating until just blended. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. ( I pressed mine with a fork and probably shouldn't have!) I rolled them into balls and wish I had just barely pressed them down. 
Remove to wire racks to cool.
Frost with Icing while still warm:
2 C powdered sugar
1/2 stick unsalted butter well softened
1 t lemon juice
2 t or more of milk....until desired consistency
mix well and frost each cookie lightly while still warm.


Have a wonderful weekend!