Purple peppers...

We have become ones who think that we are owed something...thinking that we deserve more than we get...I say WE pointing 4 fingers back at myself.  I sit here at my kitchen table pondering all of the world's problems...okay not the whole world...just my world!    And I read on my Kasey Jo calendar...okay you can call it Charles Stanley's if you want (BUT I got it from Kasey Jo and I think of her every time I read it!)    However, it seems to talk right out loud to me...

"Jesus described the Holy Spirit as our Helper, our Counselor, our Advocate.  He is not described as the One who will do everything for us and require nothing of us.  An older farmer gave this advice to a younger farmer: Ask God to show you what to plant and when to plant...Then cultivate the ground, pull the weeds, and fertilize the plants as they grow.  Ask God to produce a great harvest.  Then go out and gather the harvest when it is ripe...Don't try to do God's part.  And don't expect God to do yours."

This seemed to be a part of theme for me today...or in my mind it is a theme...as I am reading Good Habits and Bad Habits or something on that order by Joyce Meyers...This morning I read on happiness.   Of how we can NOT depend on others to make us happy.  They are not responsible for our happiness...and much of happiness is choosing to be.   I know that we do not always have happiness...that life can seem that it is not what we had "planned".   Which makes me think of another calendar from yesterday...though it was the day before...I read yesterday's the day before and so then I realize that I had missed the day before's and so I read it yesterday...

DO YOU UNDERSTAND what it is like living within this body...do you know why I am always on a bike ride...but you know...often when one is on a bike you are taken back to that little girl that is carefree...and even on my exercise bike...I can close my eyes and I am riding the country road to Grandma Bessie's...sunflowers lining the ditches...the cool breeze blowing in my face as I can go as fast as my legs will carry me...you see Grandma Bessie lived at the bottom of the hill!   Or I am back at Lake Lodge with Ernie chasing me and my dog chasing him...perhaps that is why I love bikes...oh yeah...that wasn't what I was talking about...

…”The Holy Spirit speaks to neutral hearts. By that, I don’t mean passive or indifferent hearts. God gave us the ability to dream dreams and make plans. Many of the Old and New Testament leaders were men and women of vision and ambition. By neutral, I mean being consumed with discovering what pleases the Holy Spirit rather than working to convince Him of the wisdom and brilliance of our plans. I’m afraid many of us pray with the goal of talking God into things rather than trying to discover His will. As a result, we never hear HIM.”

How many besides me are guilty of this one...trying to convince God...YOU know LORD...I know YOU are really busy and so wouldn't it be best IF...But I am reminded of one of my favorite verses:

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

I have been giving thought of what is my "gifts" my purpose...of how can I use them...and if I use them who will want to receive them...and so this morning I go back to the calendar...that I should work on doing my part and let God do HIS!    That is sometimes easier said when either I don't want to "fertilize"  okay perhaps I do too much fertilizing...maybe I should use hoeing...I really do not enjoy that one much...but I have some hoeing to do...I have been showed what it is...but I say how about I rake instead...and I am sure GOD is sitting there and saying why in the world would you think raking would be beneficial...well I like raking better...I wonder if I make GOD dizzy as well!   So thankful for GRACE!

We have some purple peppers in our garden...we have never had purple peppers...not even sure what kind they are...I am on a mission to find out as we were given the plants...so now we have these purple peppers...but I am not sure what their purpose is...hmmm sounding familiar...Are they supposed to just be ornamental as Jimmie suggested?   Who later told me that they are edible BUT HOT!   So maybe that is me...my gifts though somewhat limited...might just add some spice along out there...You know not just sit here being "PRETTY" as I am told by my son (This is not intended as a compliment mind you) and so one day in my defense...the Firecracker she set him straight and said, "She is not pretty!"    I have never had such a compliment!  

This is quite the rambling...a bike ride if you will...and I think about my earlier readings...of doing my part and God doing His...though HE often picks up my slack...so I guess I have some "hoeing" to do...(full disclosure...the shepherd does all the hoeing in the garden)...but I got my own "hoeing" to do...

Have a good one..."This is the day that the LORD has made...we shall rejoice and be glad in it."   Psalm 118:24

And as I go to look up the song that goes with this verse...I find instead a 1984 song (ahhh the 80's) that I don't remember well I remember the 80's somewhat but the song isn't familiar but is kind of cool in an 80's sort of way...I think it must be the accordion...for those that don't know...I took accordion lessons as a small child...not for long...not near this good...but it says this is the day your life is gonna change...WHY NOT! :)   SO GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE...oh that's a different song...ttfn

lyp

Through the eyes of a Firecracker...

Happy 4th of July...

 

Yesterday...one of those great days...I took the day off work and the Shepherd finished up a little bit and we headed for Limon...yes the Firecracker was going to be dancing at the Limon fireworks celebration!   When asking if the "girls" would be around for lunch...little Miss Izzy says, "Sure why not."   Sometimes she is just a little old woman...an old soul perhaps...wise beyond her years...yet full of the joy and vibrancy that only a child can share.

We made homemade burritos and just got to hang out a little.   Oppy got the "dangerous toy" hung from the tree...The swing from Mike and Liz.   Mike made comment of giving a dangerous toy to which "Lizzy" a nurse, a trained professional, was certain that no harmful toys were given to one little girl.   How could a little tree swing ever be considered "dangerous"...as she visioned Izzy just twirling and spinning in the shade of a beautiful tree.   To which Mike, a cop, also a trained professional, enlightened Liz as to how this toy was to be played with...something regarding launching a person at full speed...

Isn't that how it is...not always sure a man and a woman thing...though often it does fall in that division.   How one person does not have any idea or vision of that of another...I smile and think of these two newly engaged individuals...and know that these "differences" are just a stepping stone of many others...but as in most cases...they are both right!   We will hope more for Liz's insight on this one though I am not certain because when Izzy started playing on it...though she was cautious and twirled she also yelled out a WOOO!   The video is quite funny...However, though she is cautious now...I saw her pushing her "imaginary friend" HeeHee.    She would let him smack into the tree or had to duck that he didn't come back and smack her.  In fact while pushing HaHa...he did hit into  her...you know he is stronger than her!

So I include a couple pics...that display both sides...Can you guess Liz's view?  Oh yes we were jammin in our jammies Grand Great Uncle Shane!

So Oppy was trimming some trees and going to mow...but one little one heads out to tell him to come in and eat...and tells him to come now he can finish that later...it seemed as though she might have heard that before...

And after lunch...one little one needed to swing a little more and then had to either take a nap or a shower...she chose snuggling with her mom and was asleep before long...but then had to be woke up in time to go to dance rehearsal...so her mom started the wake up process and then I took a blue balloon and drew a face on it...I kept hitting her with it and saying it was Blue Balloon Bell...she finally tells her mom something about that being familiar...at Ahma's house is Blue Bell.   She finally gets ready and off to the rehearsal we go...she looked so little yet so big in her step of independence as she headed across the field by herself...the night before she was not sure about dancing by herself but she told her mom that she would walk with us to where we sat and then go by herself to where she needed to practice...she reminded me of her uncle LaLa...Watching these little steps of independence...of growing up so fast...

After rehearsal, her mom ran to the truck...Izzy just wanted to stay but she seen one of her summer friends she has made and so she wanted to go tell her goodbye...so I got a picture of the two together...of course in this picture...Izzy is telling her friend Macey (not sure if I am spelling correct) that it doesn't matter if you smile or not...Ahma will just keep snapping pictures!  

Next was a good idea for this dance team fundraiser.  They provide a camp...then the little girls get to dance in their cute little t-shirts...but they also had it so that the girls could have their hair and nails done by the dance team.   Those little ones thought they were big stuff.  So Izzy got her hair and nails done...

Oh yes...blue of course...with white dots...pretty snazzy.   And so the secret is to use a toothpick...learned all kinds of secrets!

While the girls were getting beautiful...Oppy and I made a run for the dancer's choice for supper...yes McDonald's...bring back.  We ate right in our seats and then a quick change and it was showtime!

Uncle Lance made it.  Uncle Andrew and Aunt Autumn.   Grammy and Grandad.  Oppy, Heather and I all in the same section.   Izzy would look from time to time and smile and wave at us all.   Making sure we were still there and knowing she was okay because her people were there.   A blessing to have people...and to know those people adore you and are there for you...

Before she went her mom had went to tie her t-shirt and then tuck it in and then the next thing she is untucking it...going for comfort...her mom smiled and said, "Jay"...as that is how her daddy liked to wear his t-shirts.

Of course, having it untucked helps one run faster when we are racing...either against our mom or against an uncle...



















And so I show a few more of her fans...though Grandad and Oppy were hiding...

Miss Isabel put on quite the show...we all laughed so hard at her moves.   I was a little disappointed this morning as I had took my first shot at using the video on my camera...I had missed parts of her dance...and I seemed to get the message how taking these pictures goes along with other areas in my life...I should use the TRIPOD (Get it TRI)!!!   I should FOCUS!!!   I should make sure I am seeing what is really there...what better example Lord than showing me this way.  

It was hard to believe that this was the same little timid girl as she wanted to stand up and dance even when it wasn't her turn...of course the sun had gone down and we all know this is a different child then...

After the dance was over we headed to where we were sitting by Tyler and his Grandma...better known as G-Unit...on the way we came upon a little celebrity in her own...Miss Boston Herrera...daughter of Jake and Amy.   I always assume that everyone knows who they are...Jake is one of the Limon Police officers...many of you know him best when I describe him as the one who rode on the carriage at Jay's funeral with Heather and Izzy...and I was thinking this morning...sort of a symbol for Jake and Amy as they both have stayed close to the girls side.   Amy had shared a pic I put up and put "cousins"...and I thought how true...because their daddy's really are brothers!   Anyway FOCUS...I caught several pics of Izzy admiring little Boston...of her making faces of what Boston was saying...because after all who can understand her better than Izzy...oh to be princesses!

And so then it was time for the fireworks...I moved around a bit...but finally ended up right behind one little Firecracker in her tiny little chair...sitting next to Grammy...and I watched these two and though of their connection...and as I watched the fireworks I was on the same level as Izzy and I watched through the eyes of a Firecracker...I heard her say I love these as she would stand up and applaud each time.   I clicked several pics of fireworks...but was trying to capture these two taking in the show...I remembered at Jay's memorial and when they shot off fireworks as he loved them...little Miss Isabell saying what sounded like "Wow!"

And as Oppy and I headed home after some ice cream with the gang...I reflected on the night and it was almost as though I could hear Jay's jolly laugh as he would have laughed so hard with us at Izzy's show...how she dances to her own drummer and how you love her all the more for doing so...and the shepherd had found a station that seemed to be playing all 70's stuff when Tom Petty's "Free Falling" came on and I thought of Heather as it is one that we both like...but Tom Petty was one Jay and I both liked...and while I was thinking on this...a falling star seemed to dart across the sky and I thought of a "falling star" that we all miss...but one that lit up our world while here...just like one little Firecracker!   And I looked at her this morning and noticed the Limon and though it was 4th...thought of Limon 4...and how he is still with us in one little Firecracker...who just makes you smile...

Yes the 4th of July always makes me think of Jay as that is the day he wanted to get married on.  Due to trying to coordinate...he compromised with July 5 for he and Heather's wedding day...and so tomorrow...another anniversary...but a reminder of such a fun day...

Heather I seen this on Pintirest and thought...yes this was Jay's list...taken from http://blog.thebecker.com/index.cfm/postID/1074.

Yes I think one Firecracker might have a little of her daddy in her...

So guess I will bring this to a close...seemed to just keep going and going...and now another 4th of July has passed...as my kids are up hottubbing...and I smile of the 4th of July through a Firecracker's eyes...is a good one...

lya