Spring is Coming to our Home

Spring is coming...
Along the front walk.... (Camellias)
...over the back fence (bird of paradise)
...behind the shed (Camellias)
...on the tips of trees (Lemons)
...along the driveway (daffodils)

and standing proudly like a herald...the Iris plant.
Spring is coming!

Happy 17th!

My youngest son is always hamming in up. Today is his 17th birthday. He's at school, right now, slaving away. "If I were in charge," he says, "everybody would get a holiday on their birthday." Last weekend he celebrated early by inviting a few friends over to spend the night. I caught them with their mouths full in this picture.


They brought over computer games, movies and twenty-dollar bills. Birthday parties are a lot easier than they used to be. The only thing I had to do was keep the food coming.


They went to bed around 3:00 a.m.

Tonight, on his real birthday, we'll go out to dinner.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Casa Del Rey, or any place with steak."

I have a little book called "Praying God's Will for My Son" by Lee Roberts. It's full of scriptural prayers for sons.

I pray that my son is persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor heighth nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate him from Your love which is in Christ Jesus his Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Lunar Eclipse Tonight!

It was fun to watch the lunar eclipse tonight.

Here is a photo from my humble camera. The moon is almost covered by the earth's shadow.

Tonight I ran in and out of the house while cooking dinner to watch the show. Nobody else around here seemed that excited.

But after awhile, I caught my husband outside at the end of the driveway. Then I heard my youngest son call my name and I whirled around and....where was he? He was on the roof! He stayed up there long after I went back in the house.

My oldest son, who only needed to look at the eclipse once, helped me make dinner tonight by barbecuing hamburgers, chopping and sauteing onions.

The oldest is in the middle of the second week of his new job. Every morning we take off at 5:45 a.m. and head for his workplace. Soon he will get his insurance going again, and I'll be off-duty.

It was nice to look up tonight. And remember that God and his creation are amazing.

A Prayer

This picture was taken at Mammoth Lakes a few years ago. The rocky road that wound up the mountain was a bit challenging, but after reaching the top, the beautiful alpine lake was our reward. (Click on the picture if you like. Please remember to pray for my son on the far left.)

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I'd like to repeat this prayer (by Ruth Meyers) that I posted a few weeks ago. I hope it blesses you as it does me.

My mother suggested I pray it every day. So I printed it out today, because otherwise it will be forever buried in posts.

Thank you that you plan to use for good the struggles my loved ones face - including their disappointing choices, and their unwise or even harmful ways of thinking and living, and their sidetracks from going your way (as I see it--and Lord, I know I could be wrong!)

I praise you in advance for the part these difficult things are going to play in Your good plan for us - in eventual deliverance and growth and fruitfulness. I'm grateful that in all these things, the battle is not mine by yours . . . and that the final chapter has not yet been written. How good it is that I can call on You to give me wisdom to know what to say or not say, what to do and not do . . . and that You live in me so that I can love with Your love, even when it's hard. Thank You that these trials force me to trust You more!

I worship before You, my King and my God. I'm grateful that You command victories for Your people . . . and that "all things are Your servants." You're a God who acts on behalf of the one who puts his hope in You. Thank You that You are at work to answer my prayers in Your good way and time.

My Niece

My brother is a city slicker and a California surfer. At least he WAS until he married a gal who grew up on a ranch and was accustomed to owning and caring for horses.

His wife endured the city slicker life for many years, and then things changed. My brother's job transferred to Colorado. My sister-in-law patiently stuck things out in the suburbs for awhile but then...one day...while taking a drive they happened upon a small cozy home with several acres of land. This cute cottage is now "home sweet home" and has grown into a ranch where his wife and two daughters enjoy owning horses. Here are a few snap shots of my 14-year-old niece (sent via email) at the recent National Western Stock Show.

A few years ago, I visited the ranch. I was able to ride a horse, but they put it on a lead, because he was a little spunky...like all their horses. They don't have the kind that walk real slow. I decided to make him trot and I almost fell off. As you can tell, I don't know how to ride. I do better on 2 wheels. So...have you ever been on a horse?

Sailing over the Hurdle

My 20-year-old son got a job! Today was his first day at an Aerospace plant. He will train as a machine operator. He learned to cut metal today. He also said the machine had a cool projector where he can check his precision. He has to make curved cuts. He can check the curvature of his piece by holding it up to the projector which also projects graph paper in the background. I am positive I am NOT explaining this correctly.

There are still many hurdles to overcome...but this is a step in the right direction. He still wants to take a welding class at the local Junior college.

After his initial training on the new job, he will be moved to the night shift (11 pm to 7:00 am) The welding class (at college) starts at 7:30 am and goes to 12:00 noon. Will he be able to do that? He'll have to try it and see. It would not be good to fall asleep while welding.

Since his insurance ran out the day before he started his job....I am now driving him to work, which takes about 30 minutes round trip. Then...I go to work. (After I take the youngest to school.) Needless to say, I'm up early in the morning. But soon he will make enough money to get his car back in working order.

Verse of the day: Matthew 9:26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking it is impossible. But with God all things are possible."

C. also said that an astronaut visited the plant today, and he came home with an autographed picture. (John L. Phillips). The company makes bearings that are used for the army, navy as well as the space program.

A little writing...a little thinking...

Yes, I'm still here. I'll try to post more often. This is a picture of the crows in a back yard tree. They were making quite a ruckus. The picture looks better if you click on it.

I've had a little more time to read and write, because I have to rest my back. I'm struggling with a muscle spasm. I'm starting to write an article. My computer chair has been replaced with the couch. My computer has been replaced with a pad of paper.

Usually I just plunge in, but this time I'm forcing myself to outline the article. It should be easier to write if I know where I'm going. I also had to choose an angle...and had to ask myself....what do I want to give to people...through this. What is the "take-away"?

I haven't heard back yet about the article I submitted to Today's Christian Woman. It usually takes them a couple of months to reply. The article is called, "When God Rode a Dirt Bike".
The article I'm writing now is about an experience the Lord brought me through when I challenged a book that the local high school used for core-curiculumn. It will be a difficult article to write because so much happened. I have to choose the important parts, and leave the rest out.

On the family front, we continue to experience confusing and frustrating situations with our oldest son. Regarding the job: We're not sure if he got it or not. Will give you an update later.

At the end of my rope...of expertise...in the family arena...and after much prayer, I have sought a counselor. I had my first meeting last week. I'm encouraged that she may be able to help me see things objectively. So far we're just gathering family information.

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7

Slow Down

I have a muscle spasm in my back, so I've been taking it easy this weekend. I hope I can go to work on Monday. This has forced me to slow down.

The good part is, suddenly...I have time to read. (When I can get comfortable) I'm reading my friend's writing magazines. She left a whole stack here. I'm reading interviews with authors, and "how-to" articles and tips. I have not been in the mood to write...but the articles have inspired me. So today I took a few minutes to email an article query to Today's Christian Woman. It could take awhile before I hear back.

I have a new goal. Submit one article per month.

My son is very close to getting a FT job. We should know by Feb. 10. My husband has mixed feelings about it because our son will no longer be able to complete his welding training at the college. But I know if he gets the job...that's where God wants him for now. His hours might be the night shift--11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. He will be trained to machine bearings at an Aerospace manufacturer.

No matter what happens always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thes. 5:18