Monday, June 28, 2010

Why I blog

A sweet, wise, young friend of mine told me very recently, "You should write more."  My first reaction was an in-the-brain-funny-face, "Really?  Why?" as I sat at my computer.  "Hmmm".....she got my gears going.

 I've always had a gift for gab (if you haven't noticed by now) and even got in trouble in the 4th grade by my dear teacher, which sent notes home about my abilities.  My sister remarked last year that my FB status' were always long.  I try to make them short, but it always seems like something is left out.

Did my friend mean I should "blog"....maybe not.....she probably just meant I should write more....for myself? for my bambinos?.  But blogging had already been on my heart.  I read blogs and I'm always amazed at how candid these bloggers are and how much I learn.  Can I be that honest with my readers? with myself?  What do I have to say that's worthwhile...worth my time and my followers?  What exactly am I willing to share online that will last forever and ever?  The only thing worth lasting that long is something for Jesus Christ so onward I pray and write.

Like a lot people, I like to be heard, dispense my advice about how I know everything on everything ;-), yet I am the first to say that I like to be taught.  I like to grow.

I want to be EVERYthing that God wants me to be.
I want the potential my heavenly Father put in me to find it's way into practice.
I want to be a steward of my body, our budget, and all the heapings of blessings He chooses to bestow on me.
I want to be the proper wife to my awesome, steadfast husband.
I want to be the right example for my daughter that she may grow up following God foremost.
I want my boys to be godly Men that man can follow and God can trust.
I want them to be faithful, more so than I.
I want them to be better and strive to be more steadfast than I.
I want be a steward of His bounty of favor laid on me.
I want to teach others what God has taught me.
I want to make a difference for Him.
I want to be a safe harbor of His unending testimony.

As you see I yearn for what's right and what's true.  And I yearn for others to want that also.

As I embark on this new part of my life,
please do not expect perfection as I am a mortal with much sin to conquer....
do not expect a daily posting, as I do have an extremely busy life that I haven't quite touched on and I do attempt to keep priorities outside of computerland....
do not expect perfect English because even though I have to learn it all over through home educating my bambino's (and I did well in school), I may just not be that tedious....I'm just not promising. :-)

BUT you may expect me...
to be real
to be non-judging
to learn from you
to share with you
to anticipate your comments
to teach you
to use emoticons more than you'd like ;-)
to cry with you
to laugh with you
to proclaim God's sovereignty
to use ellipsis too much and.....
to do my best in fulfilling God's will for my life

So my prayer is that you'll...
visit me from time to time
remember I'm human and err
share with me
learn from me
grow in God's grace
know you have a place in heaven
agree to disagree at times
forgive my faults
feel at home in my honesty
trust God for every dandelion that you need
                       and when you gather your dandelions,
                        don't forget to spread the seeds so others may rejoice also.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Why dandelions?

So we have 3 bunnies now. Had them for several months. About a month ago I found out that dandelions are actually a great, nutritious treat for them (after one started eating them in the yard and I looked it up online). What fun! FREE treats. But it NEVER occurred to me they would NOT be in the yard all summer....that they actually have a season!

This last week I realized we had no more. I started looking in the store for dried ones, but you could only get them in an expensive bag with all kinds of other hay that we didn't need. It was actually this last Wednesday that I realized they didn't exist in the yards as I passed one by one....all void of the yellow nusciance. I said to myself, "Well, next Spring we'll have to be on the ball and pick as many as we can and dry them our selves. Lord, I hope you help me remember." End of conversation.

The next morning I embarked on a mile walk to a large open field/park with 6 kids to run around and kick the soccer ball around. I had not been to that field for a year and it was my daughter's suggestion (which she was happy to remind me later) :-) .

We had been there about 10 minutes when out of no-where I noticed a single, fluffy, yellow dandelion!! Then another....then another! I got the kids all searching and picking. And yes, we WERE searching. You didn't look across the field and see yellow. You had to walk around, looking closely. We saw more walking home BECAUSE we were looking...

They had a ball and we learned a lesson. To see God answer that desire I had in such a simple way. To realize that He IS ALWAYS faithful and ALWAYS listening. To see when our eyes are opened and purposeful, we are blessed beyond our expectations. May you remember to rely on God's provision the next time you see a dandelion.


Dandelions

you used to be an eyesore...
a troubling kind...
an inconvenient nuisance...
we'd loose our minds.

your yellow amidst green
would make us sigh,
get out the sprays
and hopefully say goodbye.

but hello again sunshine, 
you're not a waste!
you're a bunny's delight...
rich nutrition encased!

God uses the unwanted...
sees their potential.
He knows that life
is not circumstantial.

He purposed the defeated...
planned & provided.
open your eyes and heart
to how He is guiding?

trust His provision.
it's always on time.
dandelions will pop up...
His way is sublime.

gather your blessing,
but don't hold it tight.

allow it to seed...
spread His pure light.

by Stacey Wallace