Bloom with Jesus!

Do you ever look back and think, “Me and my bright ideas?” Well today was one of those days. When we first arrived in Florida I washed all of the windows that don’t have screens and can be reached from the outside. Unfortunately, the living room windows were not one of those. I hated looking through the dirty windows and asked Jim to help this morning. They are hurricane windows and very heavy, not to mention the windows are extremely wide. It takes two people to release both buttons and lift them. Jim and I struggled to get the bottom window lifted, but were finally successfully and tilted it inward. I washed it and we pulled the top window down. Except it didn’t just pull down—it slammed down, wedging my right hand in the crack! Jim was trying to push it up, I was trying to help one handed. I tried to pull my hand out, but there was no way. As he is shoving upward, I am thinking, “If I scream for help   is there a neighbor outside?” (Screaming would not have been hard to do ...

After much frustration of cooking with three out of four burners, Jim and I decided to purchase a new stove in Florida. We had no idea how old the stove was, nor a good repairman, so it seemed like our best option. The installation crew was supposed to take the old stove to the curb, and in most cases it will disappear. But we wondered how long it would sit there, and how would we get rid of it if someone didn’t take it. So forty-eight hours before delivery, I advertised the old stove for a low price on social media. I wasn’t surprised when I had a nibble right away, but typically you go through lots of nibbles, before you get a bite. This gentleman truly said he wanted the stove and we set a time. As the minutes clicked away my frustrations built, thinking he was another no show, when he was over an hour late. My first thought was, “Here we go. They always say they want it, but don’t show.” I decided to send him a message and he quickly replied. He had gotten tied up finishing a job a...

While I was shopping, I stepped into the garden center for some potting soil. To my surprise, before me was a sea of red poinsettias that filled the aisles. Typically you see a few white and pink ones in the mix, but these were all bright red. It was so beautiful that it took me by surprise. Since it is our first year spending Christmas in Florida, I couldn’t resist purchasing a small one for my Christmas tree. Even though we had Christmas with the kids and grandkids before traveling south, I feel like something is missing. I have to admit, having the poinsettia on my table has brightened my spirits. Looking at the poinsettia, there is nothing spectacular about it. It is a small one. The pot is just a plain black plastic pot, there isn’t even foil around it to make it more decorative. I take it to the sink for water when needed, and set it back in a bowl on the table. To me it is beautiful and it reminds me that Jesus is a reason for the season. Like my plain and simple pot, Jesus was ...

My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives in the hurricane this week. Many lost their homes, businesses, power, and much more as a result of this horrific storm as it came up the Gulf Coast and swept through the Carolinas. The storm did a great deal of damage across many states with its powerful winds and flooding. The storm had so much force that we had wind gusts in Ohio yesterday. One of those gusts broke a huge limb off of the neighbor's tree. Unfortunately, the limb fell on his car and a piece of equipment he had parked in the driveway. No one was hurt, and it seems so small compared to those in the South who have lost much. We have had stronger winds from thunderstorms earlier this year, so why did the limb suddenly fall? Most of our storms come out of the west, and the trees are used to the wind force from that direction. As they grow, they become stronger, almost as if they are leaning into the storms of life. But the hurricane winds came from the east...

After a week of hot dry weather, our cornfield is showing signs of needing much rain. In the heat of the day, the leaves are curling making it look frail and parched. This is a natural response to the stress the heat is putting on the corn stalks. For this to happen a few days, brings concern but no damage. However, if the heat and drought continue, the corn crop yield will begin to suffer. As I walked to the mailbox today, I snapped a picture of the curled corn. We are much like the curled corn. When the heat of life is turned up, we tend to curl up and draw within ourselves. This too is a natural stress response, a way to protect ourselves from pain and suffering. A few days in the heat and stress is no problem for us either, but if it continues, we too will not produce any crop. So how do we prevent this from happening when God allows the heat to be turned up in our lives? Job is a good example of suffering. God allowed him to feel the “fire” of pain and agony when everything was ta...

Our new neighbors are just the sweetest and most helpful friends one could ask for. We are still getting acquainted with one another, but they are both kind and helpful, and their children are so polite. He is a very talented free-hand painter for motorcycles and trucks. His truck is absolutely beautiful, and when I complimented his work, his wife said, “Thank you. I am so proud of him.” Those words echoed in my mind for several days. First of all, I thought it was precious that she adored her husband’s talent. Second, it was a reminder that I need to compliment Jim more than I do. I know the Bible warns us about our pride in verses like, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) , but pride in your spouse is different from being too proud or self-absorbed to need God or others. Dictionary.com backs this up by showing two definitions of the word. a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherish...

I’m not sure why, but Christmas 2023 was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I had so many memories flooding my mind. Not just Christmases from the past, but little tidbits from my childhood and various family members who impacted my life. Rather than celebrating Christmas, I began to feel weighed down. The feeling was all too familiar because I struggled with grief with the loss of my sister. I had a choice to make, wallow in my memories or rejoice in the blessings of growing up in a wonderful family. I chose to get active and pass along some important tidbits of my heritage to my daughters-in-law, so they could teach their children as they grow. Mom was on my mind and how she could make something out of nothing. I found the old Nestea jar that was hers and added some calla lilies and a ribbon to make a vase of flowers for Kim. Then I wrote a letter to Kim explaining why Mom saved and used a Nestea jar from my childhood era. Mom was a child during the Great Depression Era and repurpose...