Monday, April 30, 2018

Open my eyes that I may see.......





Isn't it amazing how we can all look through the same window, and yet we all may see different things?  

I'm one of those people who opens the blinds first thing every morning......why is it,  that opening those window shutters is something that I do each and every day?  



Because: ~~~~~  I want to see the brightness that shines through my windows.  I want to see what the world looks like outside.  I'm inquisitive about what the day is going to bring.  It's almost as if I'm obsessed with the light.

I know that there are people who never open their blinds.....no matter what time of day it is.   This is not to say that they are depressed or that they are anti-social.  This is just what they choose to do.

I feel sure that if Sam and I were both standing at the window, looking outside together,  there would be some things that would catch both of our eyes.  Especially if it's movement of any kind.   But....I'm pretty certain that I would see things that he would not see and he would focus in on things that I might not notice.  

Perhaps it's not a window that we are looking through.   Maybe it's life....or school....or church....or work.   We all will see things in a different light.  Do our differences give us reason to judge or to be judged?  Not at all.  We are to be humble and kind, even when others see things different from the way we see them.  

My desire is to train my soul to allow the light to shine through me in every way possible.   Listen:  There will be people who will do everything in their power to snuff out your light...to snuff out the beauty that you see out your window.   The good news is:  Cloudy days fade but the glory of God will NEVER fade away.  God's Glory shines all around us and NO ONE, NO THING can take that away from us.........................

No matter what area of life it is.....if it's looking out my bedroom window each day, or if its dealing with issues in life.....I'm going to look for the beauty that God has planned for me.   

For me....I see it like this.....This is my window and I choose to see Good.  I choose to see the things that make me happy and I refuse to allow shadows to dampen my party!!!!!!!

Hugs,
Shug 🌹



Sunday, April 29, 2018

If you then , though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!     Matthew 7:11


I am guilty!!! I admit that I am so guilty of showering our children with as many good things as I can possibly give.   I love each of them so dearly and I want the very best for them.  

Apologetic... is not even a word for me to consider when it comes to doing everything that I can do for them.....OR....giving them anything that I can give.

God's love for us is unconditional.   HE knows that we are sinners!
HE knows the circumstances of evil that surrounds us.  YET.....YET..... HE LOVES US!!! 

HE LONGS TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN WITH GOODNESS.

God desires for us to know HIM.  HE loves to pour HIS love all over us.  HE loves for us to ask HIM for those things that are important to us.  

God's gifts are life-giving and HE gives us HIS BEST.

What do you need today?  What is God longing for you to ask HIM for?  Reach out....do not turn away from all of the goodness that God has in store for you and your family.

Thank you friends, for the Blessings you give me each day!

Shug 🌹 



Friday, April 27, 2018

Friday work day!

I woke up early this morning, thinking about all the things I wanted to get accomplished today.   After dropping my niece off at BVT, I headed out to finish buying plants for my flower beds.









I have had this hen and chicken for about 12 years now.  It was my mother's and after she passed away....I brought it to my house.   Today, I repotted what was left of it, after the bad weather we had this year.   It was massive when I first got it, but over the years it has died out.   I'm truly hoping I can get it to double in size this summer.   


I finished planting some more "Heather" today.   




Planted more of the gorgeous Lantana.....This stuff is so hardy and makes for a beautiful flower bed...




A pot filled with several different kinds of flowers!  I placed this one  at one of the corners in our front flower bed.



Ahhhh.  My old washtubs....filled with asparagus fern and Coleus plants.   By mid Summer, this will be so pretty...



Another pot filled with different plants....




Clay pots filled with grass and Blue daze!   





I pulled the old shrubs up in this bed....replaced them with variegated abelia and a few other things.




Just a little decor on the brick.....




all that I have left to do is to Top Dress the Beds and pick up a few
other flowers that I want to add in some places.  Much fun doing this project, but this evening.....I am sore all over!  

I had a little sweat going on today.....but my sweat was well worth the beauty that I will see in a few weeks when everything takes root.

This was my day.....how about you?  What did you find to do on this
gorgeous Friday!

Shug 🌹

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Oh y'all.....I love this time of the year, minus all the pollen that is floating around.....finding it's way up my nose.   Yesterday, was a day full of sneezing!  

I made two trips to garden centers, and spent the rest of the afternoon planting flowers.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they all live!






How many of you know that squirrels are very smart?  I bought a bird feeder that is suppose to be squirrel proof, meaning that the furry things are not suppose to be able to eat the sunflower seeds.

The feeder is called a "Squirrel Buster."   It has not phased the squirrels that hang out in our trees.



Here is how the feeder works.   There is a tube inside the tube and if weight (heavier than a bird) gets on the canister or perch, the tube goes up and the seeds are not exposed.   

See all those seeds hulls on the ground?  The squirrels have learned that if they shake the canister, the seeds will fall out onto the ground, and wa-la.....they have an easy feast right at there feet.

I have more planting to do today.....Think I might take me a allergy pill first!!

Hope you all have a beautiful day.....filled with many happy thoughts.

Shug 🌹


Monday, April 16, 2018

Decorate your life with God's LOVE..........


Oh sweet Mother Nature, you change with the winds and you surprise us each day!!!



The weather has been so very cold around here.......but, I will not have negative energy about this, because many of my dear friends got snow last night.


This is me.....this past Saturday......sitting out in the freezing weather.....watching Mylee play softball.

The wind was blowing so hard and this made the wind chill feel colder than 30 degrees.

a 70 minute game felt like F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!


I have flowers that need to be planted, but I'm afraid to plant them right now.   We actually had a frost last night, so I'm hoping that what I have already planted, will be ok!

I actually have on shorts right now!  It's now 74 degrees, but who knows what it will be like later on tonight.  Our guys are playing ball this evening, and I definitely plan on taking my gloves, and my blanket'S......

Happy Monday.....
shug 🌹

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Will it be Snuff or Chicken?

Be always humble, gentle, and patient.  Show your love by being tolerant with one another...     Ephesians 4:2


                                                                             



Will it be Snuff or Chicken?  Which would you choose?  It would most definitely be Chicken for me!!

Hey.....we are all entitled to our own opinions and we also get to make our own decisions.....right?

Early today, I was at the grocery store, next in line to be checked out.   As I was placing my items on the counter, I overheard the lady in front of me inquiring about a box of chicken she had picked up from the Deli.   The cashier politely responded to the lady and told her that deli chicken (which is already prepared) could not be
purchased with a Food Stamp card.  The chicken would have to be paid for.

The lady buying the chicken was not very happy, but she allowed the cashier to go ahead and ring it up, along with all of the other groceries she was getting.  As the cashier was finishing up.....the lady told her she needed some SNUFF and told her what kind.   The cashier goes to the area where they keep all the tobacco products and brought back the jars of snuff.

After she rang up the snuff, the cashier told the lady that she needed $$ dollars and so many cents......   Suddenly....the "lady" came to life....saying "if Food Stamps are not going to pay for the chicken, then I don't want it.  I need my snuff!"   The snuff cost more than the chicken.

The chicken had to be unbagged.....Deli department had to come pick up the chicken.......the cashier had to make adjustments to the bill....       MY FEET WERE HURTING.....
and the lady was UNHAPPY.   😠  

I guess you could say her attitude was sorta out of "SNUFF"......lol

Why is it that I always get in the wrong stinking line at the check out counter?   

So my question is......would you have chosen the chicken, or the Snuff?

Just another day isn't it......Life is great!

Hugs,
Shug 🌹








Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still....
                                                           Exodus 14:14


                                      

I woke up several times last night.   I'm guessing that I was trying to ignore the fact that I knew God was speaking to me.  

Have you ever done this?  I would wake up.....think about my attitude about things, and in just a short while, I would doze back
off to sleep.   This went on forever it seems!

Finally....in the wee hours of the night, I remember saying.... ok God.....I'm listening.  Speak to my heart and help me to close those doors to my broken attitude.  

I will admit....my attitude has been....well lets just say.....not the best lately.   I'm not good with change, and it really presses on my nerves when others expect me to enjoy their changes.   My bad attitude says: "I don't like this and I'm not going to be happy about it!"
The Lord tells me:  "Rejoice in ALL things."  He is in control and whatever the case....HE will work for my good.

I ask......
              
              why do we have to follow the trend?
              what has happened to the good ol' "ways?"  The way
                       my grandparents and parents did things.
              what am I suppose to do when I feel so miserable?
                       when will it change?
              


I'm telling you.....the Lord is speaking to me about all of this and I don't necessarily think that HE's telling me I'm totally wrong to have the feelings that I have.  I think HE's telling me not to worry....not to have stress over things.....That HE knows exactly where I'm at and HE understands my feelings.    Perhaps HE is leading me down a different path?

The only way for me to know is to seek God and be willing to listen closely to the path that He wants me to take.... Be STILL and allow GOD to work on my behalf.  

If my attitude needs a change.....then I must be willing to let God help me change it.

If the old road has come to an end and I need to take that new path, 
then I need to let God pave that path for me.

If I am right in the way I believe things should be.......then I must wait for God to change the course.

One thing I know is that God will fight for me!!!   

Night or Day.....God is always with me!

Blessings,
Shug 🌹









                  

Thursday, April 5, 2018

"It is of the Lord's _____________ that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

                                             Mercies........Lamentations 3:22-23


             ***************************************




All I could think about was "Grass Stains" on this
beautiful white dress.  

This is what you call......Barefoot Egg Hunt!

This girl (aka. Mylee Jo) is as close to being a 
tomboy as you can get.   The only reason she
wears shoes to school is because it's the rule.

Have a great day!
Shug 🌹





Sunday Thinking

  Happy St. Patricks Day!   🍀 Tomorrow, I will be filling my hummingbird feeders.  The little beauties should be arriving any day now.  I a...