September Apples

I had an "alone" day a few days ago, so I went here, to the apple farm The apple farm is located just up the road a bit, into the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. I chose a day when I knew it would be quiet, and uncrowded, just the way I was feeling.




I bought some of these Honeycrisp apples. I've already eaten most of them. If what they say, "An apple a day..." is true, I should be in doubly good shape.

I also bought some of this. Good, homemade apple bread. I didn't need this. No, not at all. But it looked so good, I bought it anyway....I've almost eaten all of it too. Does that cancel out the good that all the apples did for me?

Work

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."
2 Chron 15:7

Do you ever wonder sometimes why bother? Maybe you've just cleaned the house, it looks all pretty and shiny, and the dogs come running through with muddy feet, or the kids track in grass and dirt?

Or, maybe you're trying to make a difference in someone's life, lend a helping hand, a listening ear, and it doesn't seem to make that difference?

This verse was in our church bulletin yesterday, and it jumped out at me, grabbing my attention. Maybe it was because I've spent so much time lately trying to figure out the what and the why in the things that I do.

I work for a domestic violence center. Sometimes working with victims and survivors of domestic violence, but mostly working out in the public schools, with children and young people of all ages, speaking in the classrooms about family violence and teen dating violence. I haven't always done this work. Last school year was my first year. I come from a background of business and management and politics. I'd never worked with masses of kids before. Often I felt challenged, disillusioned, and exasperated, especially when working in middle school classrooms. What is it with middle schoolers anyway?? Can they care about anything other than cutting up with friends or texting? I was so thankful when summer arrived and school was out.

As I've faced the arrival of a new school year, with dread I must admit, I've found myself often thinking, "God help me. Why am I doing this? Those kids don't care." In the midst of that dread and questioning, I think God has reminded me of those kids, those few out of thousands, whose faces and body language betrayed their silence, whose story was written in their eyes, as they absorbed and realized I was talking about them, about their families. Or the kids who were desperate enough to write me a secret note, requesting to speak privately with me, and then told me the stories of what they live with, the violence and abuse...those that said "Help me." Or, "Mom won't listen to me. What can I do?" Maybe God is teaching me, that sometimes the work is hard, unpleasant, and often seems useless. Maybe I'll never see the fruits of my labor. Maybe I'll never know the one child that took what he heard that day and tried to make a difference. Or, knowing that I may never know what becomes of the young boy that cried as he poured out his fears to me, the secret he has kept for so long.

Sometimes your work may not be where you envisioned yourself, or be the ideal position that you thought it would be. Maybe sometimes God puts us in places that we'd rather not be, to do something thats not always comfortable, but that has a purpose. Even if we don't always understand what that purpose is or why we have to be the one to do it. But maybe, if the work makes a difference to only one life, only one impact for good, isn't it all worth it?

Grace

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakneses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Corin. 12:9

God cannot make His grace any more sufficient than He has made it; get up and believe it, and you will find it true, because the Lord says it in the simplest way : "My grace is (not shall be or may be) sufficient for thee." Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them. (Written by H.W. Webb Peploe, after asking God to let His grace be sufficient for him)

I don't always understand God's grace. Its beyond my capacity to understand such unconditional love, such faithfulness, such desire for me. All I know is I am so very thankful for it. Let me grasp on the the reality of "where sin increases, His grace abounds all the more." Romans 5:20

Abounds. I love that word in this verse. His grace abounds for me...abundantly. Not just enough, not just what I need, but more, over and above, abundance. Thank you Jesus, for I sure do need the abundance.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercies,

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again. -Annie Johnson Flint

Abundance! Yes!

St Simons Island

My Granny use to say that St Simons Island was a "dripping place." It dripped with spanish moss, humidity, and the old spirituals sung by the Gullah women on wash day. I think Granny was right. Sometimes I think my blood, my very soul, is mingled in the sand and the plough mud of the island and her marshes. I find myself called back there time and time again, since I was a child. Its been difficult, sometimes heartbreaking to see how the island has changed, from the sleepy mysterious place it was for me as a child, to the development of residential communities and vacation condos for tourism today. Here are some pictures of our trip there a few weeks ago.

Sunset on East Beach

Live Oaks and Spanish Moss at the Indian Burial Ground Christ Church

Black Banks Creek, my favorite crabbing spot

I let this one go.

Pretty Shells

Prettier Babies

My Least One

St Simons Light at Night

Sunset from the Pier

Lazy Hazy Dayz of Summer

Not really. Not at my house anyway. This summer has been jam packed full of activity. I've barely had time to catch my breath, much less blog. Sorry to all my readers, um, like all 4 of you. I have however tried to keep up with my blog reading. Its just my own blog posting is taking a beating.

Here's a few things happening at my house this summer, and my list of things yet to do:

1. I have TONS of photos on my camera that I have not even downloaded. Pictures from our trip to St Simons Island, garden pictures, pictures of cool vintage items I scored at an estate sale several weeks ago, pictures of my sister's grave at the cemetary (ok, please don't let that creep you out, its no big deal, and her grave is still new and my brother in law wanted pictures, 'nuff said). Anyway, tons of pics I want to download so I can blog about such things. Need to get that done.

2. I started the summer quarter teaching an online management class. Found out I had to develop about half of the course content, so a huge amount of my computer time has been dedicated to that.

3. Hubs and I purchased a vintage boat (does 24 years old qualify as vintage?) at the previously mentioned estate sale. It is so cool! A 24 foot cabin cruiser, complete with galley and john. But, it has needed so much clean up. So, days have been spent washing and scrubbing and tearing out old upholstery. The bulk of the upholstery will need to be replaced. Its moldy and yucky and rotten. Soon I'll be blogging for old boat cabin decor and upholstery ideas! Websites and suggestions are welcome!

4. I'm planning a trip to Key Largo, leaving this upcoming weekend. My oldest boy is there and I cannot wait to see him. I know it will be hot as blazes in Key Largo Florida in July. I don't relish the thought of the humidity. But I do treasure the thought of getting my arms around my boy. We'll be there a week so I've got tons to do before we leave.

The picture above is my youngest boy, on the beach a few weeks ago in St Simons Island. Photo courtesty of my 20 year old stepdaughter, who seems to be much more on the ball with getting her photos downloaded.

So, how's your summer? Lazy or Crazy?

Happy 4th of July

I'm gearing up, or maybe gearing down, for the upcoming July 4th weekend. Our holiday starts tomorrow, with the holiday from work and fireworks in the park at our small town.

I love small town 4th of July celebrations. Parades, cookouts, fried chicken, watermelon, music, dancing, and of course, fireworks. Our town does a very nice fireworks display at the large park on the river. Pre-fireworks festivities will begin early with lots of food vendors, games for the kids, a stage for music and dancing, facepainting, and socializing with friends and neighbors. Living in a small town, almost everyone knows everyone else. Gatherings tend to be festive, old fashioned, and clean fun. One thing I love the most about the celebration at the park is the little old ladies and life long farmers, who have lived in our rural area for generations, who will come out to sell their wares, usually fresh garden grown veggies, canned and pickled produce, homemade cakes and pies, handmade quilts and blankets, aprons, and sometimes even small livestock. This is what I love about my town, and about my country.

We'll attend the 4th celebration, and probably spend the day on the lake, swimming and sunning on the dock. I'll pack up cold fried chicken, potato salad, watermelon, a pound cake, lots of bottled water and soft drinks. We'll take our sparklers and bottle rockets to shoot from the dock later that night after the fireworks display. Hopefully I can dig out my daddy's old ice cream maker and sweet talk my hubby into churning ice cream for us. I remember as a child how special it was to help daddy church the ice cream. I know now how my daddy made it look and sound special so he could sit in the shade and tell us what a good job we were doing. Making ice cream was a natural part of our summers, and our 4th celebrations.

Yep, the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I'm proud to be American and I'm thankful for those who have made my freedom possible. Those who have come long before me, those who currently fight in many ways for our freedom, and those brave ones yet to come.

Have a safe and fun filled 4th of July. God bless America!

Down Time

We're heading out tomorrow, for our favorite place. I'll enjoy a little beach time, pool time, visiting the old places, and eating lots of she crab soup. I'm taking my laptop but planning on using it very little. Y'all have a good week, and be sweet! Bye!