My August Garden

Quote About Wasting Time

Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time.  ~Marthe Troly-Curtin

gardens, friends, tea and garage sale pictures

 A pretty little fairy standing in one of my deck containers.

 Makes me happy just to look at her; she looks so peaceful.

 Could not wait for summer to invite some ladies for tea.  Here is the table setting.  I purchased some annuals and placed them in little containers I had laying around (yogurt, individual applesauce, etc.).  I wrapped pretty material around the containers and tied it on with jute.  Some of the place settings are from my Aunt Rose who passed away about a year ago, and some settings are from my wedding china.  I found the napkin rings at an antique store.  

 My wedding china

 Aunt Rose's china

 A few of the tea ladies:  Kim, sister Cyndi and daughter Julia.  I wish I had taken pictures of all the ladies, but I got caught up in the conversation and good food and did not think about it until most had left.

 Kim, Cyndi and me

 Julia had a friend visiting, so we went thrifting.  I bought my daughter and her friend each one of these.  So cute!  They both love tea!

 My daughter spotted this, I believe at a yard sale.  Sewing machine tea pot!

 More garage sale purchases.

 My daughter's friend paints white teacups, etc. by hand.  She made this one as a gift to my daughter!  She hand-painted my daughter's favorite Bible verse on it.  Lovely!

 In my daughter's room on her dresser--all garage sale purchases.  I have taught her well.

 A painting by my mom!

 A painting by me

 A painting by my grandma--my dad's mom

A gift from my daughter for Mother's Day or Christmas.  I can't remember which!  I planted a spider plant in it, and it is going to town!

Sympathy Poem

I was given this poem when my father-in-law passed on to heaven, and I kept it for sharing with others.

I Am With You Always

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do.

You musn’t tie yourself to me with tears.

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love; you can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown,

But now it’s time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me if grieve you must.

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It’s only for a while that we must part,

So bless the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on.

So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near,

And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear

All of my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile and “welcome home.”

Approving of Yourself

Saw this quote in my Guideposts magazine this morning.  Few words can make a big impact sometimes, and this did for me:  "You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn't worked.  Try approving of yourself and see what happens.  ~Louise Hay, motivational speaker.

Follow Your Heart

Follow Your Heart

When you have an idea, which you think could make someone’s life better, even your own life, do it—even if it seems insignificant, or even if you think you don’t have the time today.  Do it because that thing you are thinking about is much more important than that load of laundry, or those dishes that need put away, or that floor that needs scrubbed.  Do it and you will be so happy that you followed your heart! 

When you have trouble deciding whether or not to take the time, stop and ask yourself these questions: Will it help someone?  Will it take all day?  Which task will bring more value to someone?  If I were on my deathbed, which task would I regret not doing?  Will it bring happiness to me or someone else?  Do I really have the time?  It depends on what time means to you—getting another household chore completed, completing another deadline for work?  We all have things we must accomplish, but we should not neglect the “from-the-heart” things either.  What do I mean by “from the heart?”  Does a friend need a card from you to know you care?  Could you visit a neighbor for a half hour once a week—even once a month?  Should you take the time to write down that inspirational verse you just read?  Yes!  By all means, yes!  You probably won’t even remember having read it a week later if you don’t write it down.  Take the time—you might be able to put that verse to good use some day to help someone else.  And how about putting it on the refrigerator?  If you are having a down in the dumps kind of day, maybe just spotting that verse as you open the fridge will put you in a different frame of mind.  You might even want to take the time to write or type it on pretty paper or scrapbook the verse.  Write it down—follow your heart!

Take 15 minutes out of your day to at least start the project.  Most times, 15 minutes is all the time the entire task will take.  Another way to think about it and make it easier is to think to yourself, “I will pick one thing to do today that I really would like to get to that is a “from-the-heart” thing.  Sometimes, it is just a matter of thinking of it as prioritizing people over things.  Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  The pattern of the world today is to prioritize work, but we must guard our hearts and not let work become our idol, serving it instead of people. 

The next time you question whether you should take 15 minutes to follow your heart, do it!  It will make you feel better all day long!  And remember, you are a person, too, so if you spend 15 minutes (or more) doing something kind for yourself, feel no guilt!  Everyone deserves love, and that includes you!  Andy Warhol is quoted as having said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” We all may or may not get our 15 minutes of fame, but fame is fleeting.  I believe God desires for us, not fame, but peace, so follow your heart most days, and get your 15 minutes of peace—and hopefully a lot more than 15 minutes!  If you know our Lord Jesus, you can have peace all the day long! Read the Bible and find out how—it will be the best thing you can do for yourself!

Take a Vacation

Take a Vacation

We all look forward to vacations!  Why?  Because it is a chance to get away from all that we do on a daily basis, and because we can slow down and get some rest.  But did you know that you can take mini-vacations every day?  You can and you should!  Everyone is very busy, but we are often too busy, abnormally busy.  We are not moving at a God-pace but often at a frantic pace.  It is not the pace God meant for us at all.  When we are racing around, we leave God out of our lives.  God should be the driver in our lives but not the race driver.  It takes an on-purpose mindset to slow down and think about God and to ask God to help you.  God is with us always, but we often ignore Him—not on purpose, mind you, but because we are busy making every moment of our lives an emergency.  God created everything, and He did not create everything in a hurry!  If God did not create us to be in rush mode all of the time, then we should heed what He wants for us:

Exodus 33:14 - And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-30--Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Psalm 127:2--It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Mark 6:31--And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Psalm 46:10--“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Isaiah 30:15--For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning[a] and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”  But you were unwilling,

Sounds to me like God wants us to slow down and get some rest!  Work has its place, but so does rest.  Stop and think:  Do I feel closer to God while rushing or when I slow down?

 Think about how you are using God’s name when you are rushing: 

“O God!  I’m never going to get this all done!” 

Now, when you make yourself slow down: 

“O God, You are so amazing!” 

Try slowing down for just one day and see if it doesn’t make a difference in your well-being.