Inside Day

And the rains continue.   Yesterday afternoon, the rain stopped for a bit and suddenly it looked like we were living in dandelion land.  There is no way to get the mower in to mow until the ground dries up a little.  And, we can't spray until the rains stop.  The latest weather report shows that after today the sun will come out.   I am waiting.....  I hope they don't change that forecast!!  We need that sun for our garden to sprout and grow!

Freckles came home soaking wet and hungry this morning.  He was purring away as I dried his fur off. Something, from out on the prairie, has been stalking the cats; but, I haven't been able to catch it yet.  It has broke through the fence three times.  It has to be bigger than the cats or it would just take the path the cats use to get in.  So far it has just scared the cats off and eaten their food.  I am watching for the fox that has been hanging around to see if he has been sneaking up to the house, hungering for kitty food and cats. 

Today will be busy.  If the sun is out tomorrow, then all the housework needs to be done today, so that we can get outside when the sun shines!  God is good...there is always hope for the future.  The day may come when the only hope will be the one True Hope -- life in the new world with the Lord.  As always, our trust is in the Lord.

followers

Somehow I lost the list of followers and the gadget that lets you follow the blog.   I just can't find a fix in any of the instructions, so, if you are still reading this....you might be the last followers. 

I will look further into this tomorrow.  

Rain...Rain....and more Rain!

Last night the wind came howling in.  It howled around the eves and around the garage door!  It had rained earlier in the evening, but seemed to have been gentle rain; it now turned into a fury and pelted the windows and the roof.  I got up to go check on the dog houses to make sure the attached little fort didn't send them flying.  Kat and Andy had come in earlier, and now the storm brought them out to check on the dogs too.  They were ok.

Neither Sammy or Beamer would budge out of their dog houses, when I went out to feed them this morning.  Beamer peeked his head out and waited for me and Sammy just stayed inside.  Picking up their dishes and dumping the rainwater, I stuck their dishes inside their houses.  

We aren't getting the dangerous storms that they are having in the midwest, but all will have to watch streams, creeks and rivers, as the rain continues through the week.  A lot of places are flooding, but so far we just have lots of mud.

Kathleen's little caragana trees that she planted last year seem to love this weather.  They finally bushed out and are standing up straight and pretty.  From a distance I don't see the little lilacs taking off, but the  bigger ones close to the house have reached their little branches up to the sky and leafed out.  

Whatever happens, whatever comes, we know the Lord is in control.  We keep our eyes on Him.

End of the Age Today!

We do know we are living in the end times.  Where?  Only God knows the day and time.  Yet, in the news Harold Camping has declared that today is the day of the Lord's return.  I don't fault him for wanting to be a prophet, or for wanting to be the one leading the people to salvation, or for looking forward to the Lord's return; but, he has ventured from the path of just trusting God. 

If you are a christian, you will know that we will see the signs, but will not know the date and time.  My  prayer is that Harold Camping and those who are trying to reveal God's plan, without God's declaration that it be revealed, will find solace from God when they realize they are mere mortals.

He's Alive! Our Sins Are Forgiven!

The following is "Four Days Late" By Aaron Wilburn and sung by Aaron Wilburn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&feature=related&hl=iw&v=RZvAGXn-CIY

May we all be a witness to the power of God, whatever the cross we carry. When we go through the fire, that is the time our hearts are open to Heaven and we are closest to God.

 

Matthew 9  (Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic) 1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

 8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Whatever the trials, His grace and His love will get us through it.
 

http://randigrace.blogspot.com/2009/10/taste-of-heaven.html
http://randigrace.blogspot.com/2009/09/ministering-spirits.html  

Do not give up, He is with us always! Lord Come Soon!   

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The Rain Finally Came!

The forecasters have been pushing back their prediction of rain, again, and again.  Finally, it rained last night!  We put off spraying the weeds because rain has been in the forecast all week.  They have now gone to seed.   At least we aren't alone, as it appears the neighbors are in the same boat.





We finally got our garden in.   Corn, peas, carrots, lettuce, onions, beans, tomatoes and potatoes.  Yesterday we added strawberries!   As you can see there is lots of work to be done, yet.  The bunch grass, in the front, has to be pulled and then we will put in a little grass and a patio. 


The rains are going to last until the 1st of June, so this gives us a breather to get some other stuff done. 


God is good and I thank Him for this rest; and, the refreshing and watering of our garden, trees and flowers.

Windy Again--No surprise!

Yesterday was so nice....no wind and very warm!!!   Today the wind is back.  In checking the paper, it looks like it will be here tomorrow too.  So, tomorrow back to my "farm coat"--my very warm winter coat that got saturated with car oil.  (Not on purpose.)

My hope was to get the garden in today, and although I got everything cleared out of the area, and borrowed Mom's rototiller, it still isn't ready. Four new fence posts now replace the flimsy ones I bought last year--that bent or broke when the wind blew over the snow fence, that was put up next to the garden fence.   Tomorrow I will get the fencing restretched and try to get a tight fence--then plow up the dirt.  It would do no good to plow up the dirt and then leave it open for the cats to get into.   Their eyes would probably get big as saucers and their little hearts pitter-patter at a fast pace, to see such a big "cat box"!!!

Kat wants to put in strawberry and raspberry plants.  Tomorrow we will make our plans and decide how eveything is going to be arranged. 

All the children are growing gardens this year, and I am so proud of every one of them.  There is a little bit of farmer in all of them.  

There is a lot of work to be done, but I am so glad spring is here! God is good! 

The Gardens

With no garden area, or room for a big garden, the kids have become resourceful at growing their garden patches.

Victoria had Nick cultivate the edge of their lawn on one end of their yard.   The tall fencing will shade the more fragile plants from the hot California sun.   Victoria and Madison removed all the bricks from their patio and used them for a framework for their garden.

 

Planted to make the most of the space available, Victoria and Madison now have a thriving garden, watered by the automatic watering system!  Life is good!

Everything is growing and doing well.

The strawberry plants in the front yard already have strawberries ripe for picking.   The harvest has already got a start!

Huimin had less options for a garden.  She took Tim shopping and they came home with supplies to build their own. She then organized and planted her garden. 

The garden is easily accessible on their patio, with a watering hose within reach and a fence to protect the plants from the strong winds that blow over the coastal plains of California.  

They have a perfect little patio garden.  Serena will soon be mothering all those little plants and I am sure Timmy is anxious to get the water hose out to water them!  

Be Watchful

As we draw closer to the end, Satan is rising up against us on all sides.  His lies are in our homes, schools, music, churches and wherever he can reach us.  But, the Lord keeps His children.  Be watchful and be diligent and trust in the Lord.  The time of Satan's reign is soon to draw to an end and he knows it and he will try to destroy you and your family.

Matthew 10:¹⁶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues...."  

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FWj7yqf6oM

This next one is so cute!  Oh Yea! 

Nothing But the Blood by Kidsrealm:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gORg-6Ig0Y4&feature=related

Mother's Day Blessings!

The greatest gift a mother can receive is to know that her children have grown up to be great parents.  Parents that love their children and parents that teach their children to pray. 

There was a pastor on tv yesterday that spoke of "conditional love" that some parents have for their children.  I only caught a little bit of the message by Dr. Charles Stanley, but the term "conditional love" really caught my attention.  You hear of God's unconditional love for His children, and we are to love likewise, but you don't hear of  "conditional love."

This world is so full of hurting children!  Children that bear the brunt of angry parents, children that must live up to unrealistic expectations, children whose wills are broken so that they live in total subjugation and fear of controlling parents, children that are abused verbally and physically.  Discipline should be a teaching tool, not a punishment.  Children should not be beaten because mom or dad is angry.  We are to have an enduring love, filled with patience and longsuffering love for the child, as God has for us.   What is so hard to just love the child?  That child has a natural love for the parent.  Let that love grow, blossom,  and reach out into the world.   

Jesus tells us that we must become as children to enter heaven.   Heaven is for the innocent, those whose sins have been washed away; and then we, as children of God, in humbleness and love, will enter into the majesty and glory of our Lord!

Matthew 18:2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Spring is in the Air!

Everything holds a promise of new life.   The lilies are poking their leaves up through the flower beds, the grass is turning green, weeds are coming up and I even saw some dandelion flowers today!  The gophers are digging holes everywhere.  Today, when I was in town, I drove down River Road and there were the geese and their little goslings!  So cute!!! 

The cats took over the garage when the bitter cold days of winter were with us.  They had a heat light and were quite cozy and happy.  Today I took the cat paraphernalia to the deck, or to storage, and washed all the cat fuzz and dander off the floor.  They got into everything out there!!   First came the sweeping of the floor and then it was washed with bleach and water.   Of course, since the garage door was wide open, the cats all came trooping through to see what I was doing.

Summer will be busy this year, with company coming, and it is going to take us the next two months to prepare.  It is exciting to see things getting done after being housebound from the bitter cold most of the winter!  Next week starts the garden! 

God is good and I thank Him for the eternal Hope we have in Him and for these wonderful blessings He has given us in this world.