of rubber boots, polka dot dresses, and answered prayer.

Last night after Lea and I dropped Becs off at her ballet lessons, we hit the road, determined to fulfill the five store goal we had made for ourselves to complete in the 2 hour time limit we had.  But... we only hit TWO of those stores, because we got kinda "caught" at one of them for longer than we expected.  (girls, you know exactly what I'm talking about, right?!) Lea and I found some decidedly fun and feminine rubber boots at one of the stores, 'cause when we go to our country property in rainy season, rubber boots are a must.  I was practically raised in them.  Rubber boots, that is.  We just had normal boy-boots back then, not cute colorful feminine ones, but my creative and artistic mom painted a different color of daisy on each sister's boots, so we had fun boots even back then.  ANYway, back to the point.  After the boots, we rummaged through the clothing section, and as I browsed, I found the most adorable (in my humble opinion) black-with-white-polka-dots dress.  I have always wanted a vintage-styled polka dot dress.  And this was it.  The one I had been waiting for.  Except... it was a size or two too small.  And it was the only one left.  Maybe I can squeeze into it.  I tried it on, but then I couldn't really move my arms, if I wanted to reach for something.  Definitely a no-go.  Lord, if you want me to have this dress, help me to find one at the other store location, I silently prayed from my dressing room stall.

Today, I kept debating whether to try the other local store to see if they had my size in The Dress.  No, I don't think I'll go... it was too expensive anyway.  Yeah, maybe I should run over and just check.  Nah, they may not have it anyway.   In the end, I decided to make a dash to the store, and there I began my hunt for the black and white polka dot dresses.  After prayerfully weaving my way through the racks of clothing, I spotted a flash of crisp black and white material.  It was them.  And at this store location they had been marked down 30%.  There were just a few left, so I whisked the remaining sizes to the dressing room.  One of them fit perfectly.   Thank you Lord, you are such a generous Father to me!  You even care about the small things, you know when we need a little 'perk'!  There has been a lot of "life limbo" going on lately, a lot of discombobulation and discouragement, so it was a precious reminder that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and cares about the little things.  Cares about the desires of our hearts. No matter or desire is too small to bring before the Lord... if it's big enough to concern you, than it's big enough to be brought to the Lord in prayer.   Even in the matter of polka dot dresses.

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 
~Luke 12:7~

I am entryatizing again, Rebecca.

I was determined to update my blog at some point this week, and although I'm cutting it close to the wire here (as usual, deadlines and I tend to get very cozy with one another.), I do believe I'm going to make my goal!  ('cause, as you all know, writing about practically nothing is such an important goal. ha!)

I'm still working on my new gardening hobby. I am asking the Lord for a green thumb, to replace my reputation as the well-meaning-plant-killer. I know that He can do that, if I am diligent on my part- nothing is impossible (even helping me not kill plants!) with Him. ;) Last Sunday I spent all afternoon puttering in the yard, planting my new herbs, etc. I've got quite a few going, y'all, and after a week, they're all still alive! So far so good! :D I blasted Pandora classical and some Fernando Ortega music to "bless" all the neighbors with (haha), and to have a soundtrack to dig dirt by. I am a big fan of soundtracks for life... makes everything nicer when you have the right mood music, I am of the opinion. Snapped some photos and put them together on Picasa. I am also a recent fan of Picasa.

On Monday I really enjoyed having coffee with my dear friend Anna. (hello Anna! since I now know you read this)  :)    She and I are "Nutty Buddies".  We're both as nutty as the day is long, so we enjoy fellowshipping.  I've known her since she was a tot going to the nursing home with us, and now she's a beautiful member of VoH- I never knew that hiding behind that beautiful shy little girl was a fun and crazy friend!  :)  Work, nursing home, dinner with friends, another trip to Lowe's (to buy more plants. :D), an office meeting, working with real estate clients, and a menagerie of other projects and chores have been occupying my time this week. 

Today was a busy one!  Lea, Michelle and I attended our Senatorial Convention this morning, which is always fun.  I've been going to it ever since I was 16 and served as a page, and now as a delegate.   We weren't sure if we wanted to be delegates to State Convention or not, but we got bit by the bug once we were there. (there's something so amazingly patriotic about standing there with all the other grass-root Republicans, determined to stay vigilant against the assaults against our freedom.  And when the National Anthem is sung, oh friends!  I always get goosebumps.  How can you turn down an opportunity to go to State after that?  State Convention is BIGGER and BETTER.)   Anyway, then we dashed waaaay across town to a dear friend, Tara R.'s wedding shower.  I'm so delighted for her, and it's so neat to see how God was faithful to write her love story, as she totally had given the pen to Him!  Truly the Lord withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly!   (If you'd like to see a visual of God's faithfulness see here!)  He did it for her, He can do it for you!  (assuming you're a single who is reading this blog! :)  Hold out for God's best, don't lower your standards, and He will bless.  "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him."  (2 Chron. 16:9) 

I'm enjoying a few quiet moments, curled up on the couch right now though; sipping coffee, keeping warm on this very cold and wet first day of spring.  I'm settling in for a nice cozy evening at home with my precious family.  Yay for family movie nights!  

Okay, I think that's enough rambling for one entry.  I am very fond of writing rambles, if you haven't noticed, but I'll stop now.  :)  I'm really not sure if this entry makes sense, 'cause I'm tired, but I am going to post it anyway.  I'm brave like that.  ;)   (waits for Becs to snicker.) Have a great rest of the weekend, all!

How does your garden grow... or does it?

"Human beings were made to interact with growing things, not to be born, live, and die in the midst of concrete set in the middle of polluted air!  Growing plants are supposed to be doing something to the air human beings are breathing, and human beings are supposed to be doing something to the plants.  It seems to me that to remove all direct contact with soil, seeds, plants, trees, flowers, fruit and grain is as devastating to normal, balanced, fulfilled human growth as removing all direct contact with a home with its natural interaction among human beings of different ages.  People throw away natural fulfillments which would give them necessary outlets as well as development as personalities, and then rush to psychiatrists.  Far better to spend some time in developing a variety of the hidden arts for which you have some talent, including some which take you 'back to the soil'.  There is something tremendously fresh and healthy in having one's mind filled with thoughts of whether the lettuce is up yet, whether the pea pods have begun to form, whether the tomato flowers are being pushed off by the tine green fruit yet, and whether that Crimson Glory rose has any rival in fragrance in anyone else's garden."

(Edith Schaeffer, The Hidden Art of Homemaking, pgs 86,87)

In the lovely book "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" by Edith Schaeffer, is a lovely chapter on the art of gardening.  On our drive out to our country property the other day, I read the "Gardens and Gardening" chapter.  And I heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit saying that I needed some of that interaction with plants and growing things.  Sometimes... I get so busy working, that I forget to live or to just be... I forget sometimes that it's okay to do something for no other reason than the simple fact that I may enjoy it.  I think He knows that maybe I need a reason to step away from computer time productivity to let my mind relax and wander through the mental abyss of rest and creativity while my hands are kept busy with something that will beautify and benefit. 

So, today, I left the office a little early and went on a mission to the great monument to home improvement: LOWE'S.  There I joined my place with all the other older ladies in roaming the garden center.   (all of you who are subject to my running "O.M. commentary" will smile with me over the thought)  ;)  I walked among the beautiful all compassing GREENNESS and FRESHNESS of everything... oh, it smells wonderful there.  Even the dirt aisle.

I roamed.  I inhaled.  I studied the seeds.  I looked for a garden cart for my grandma, who's been wanting one.  I walked around the about three times just looking for the right kind of soil to plant seeds in.  I looked at the pots.  I saw a daisy tree (yes, they really have such a thing). I tried to exercise great restraint.  That was difficult.  And even though I tried, and put back so much more than I bought, I startled myself with my grand total.   It didn't look like that much in my cart...  

I came home with a 6-pack of dark purple Petunias (how can you resist after you smell them?); a 6-pack of salmon pink Impatiens; herb seeds: sage, cilantro, oregano, and parsley; organic vegetable seeds: eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, and  zucchini (I bought the more expensive kinds of seeds to help the odds of my actually growing something worth eating to be in my favor); three 5-gallon buckets (I read that it's a good way to plant such things, and then hang them from your fence); 10 pounds of birdseed (it was buy one get one free.. how could I resist such a deal?); a blueberry bush; and a lone dandelion that was too perfect to leave sitting in the parking lot median (that was free though). 

With my finds safe in my trunk, my windows down and sun roof open, the drive home on this Texas spring-eveish afternoon was accompanied by a feeling of accomplishment, the excitement of getting my hands dirty, and the prospect of making things grow.  (if I can remember to keep them watered, that is)  Accompanied by beautiful worship music, I passed through the part of the road where the smell of fresh cut grass and wild onions fills the air... then the woodsmoke of small barbeque stand that bespeaks of all things Texan and mouthwatering... and then the fertilizer place that smelled like... well, you know, fertilizer.  ;)  And then soon I was home, ready to unload and share my treasures with my mom, who has a proper appreciation for such things green and artistic.  ;)  Now, soon ready to don my floppy garden hat and get to work am I.  First though, it's back to working on Bellissima's newsletter.  But I'd say I have some good incentive to hurry and finish now, wouldn't you say?  ;)