Do You Water Your Grass?

As K and I were riding our bikes through the neighborhood this evening, I couldn't help but notice how some of the yards were a brilliant green and well taken care of while others (mine included) were lacking in brilliance and looked more like dirt than grass. With no rain for about a month or more and temperatures around 100 degrees, how could they be anything but dead?

As we continued riding, I noticed the only difference between the brilliant green yards and mine were the sprinklers. The beautiful green yards were being watered either by sprinklers or by the owner.

As we continued biking, I couldn't help but wonder if that's what God sees in us sometimes. There are moments in my life when I seek His guidance above anything and everything else. I dive into the Word to find my answer. I pray. I ask my closest friends to pray for me. I pray some more. It's during these times that I am like the watered grass. I am brilliant in color and easy to look at (and deal with). I don't cause harm and my "stickers", although they are there, are hidden beneath the lush grass that is soft to walk on and houses many of God's creatures. My children enjoy being around me just like they enjoy walking and running in the green grass.

Then there are times, like the unwatered grass, that my "stickers" of anger, bitterness, and resentment, are wide open for everyone that passes by to see. I don't seek His guidance and therefore am left thirsty, wanting water (His Word) and not knowing what I need to do or how I need to act. Although I am never hopeless, I am sometimes left wondering what my purpose is.

I'm in a season of green grass right now and I will do my best to stay there, but the truth is that droughts do happen. The water hose (God's Word) is always available, it's what I do with it that determines if my grass (spiritual life) will grow or if it will die.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Another Way Out

L figured out another way to get out of her brother's truck. She even goes back in through the window, but I wasn't able to get it on videp. This girl can get in, out, on or off of almost anything. Soon she'll be jumping off the top of it like her brother used to do....

Getting Brave

L finally conquered the slide in our yard - mostly by herself, she got a little push from her brother, probably the only time he'd get away with not getting in trouble....(-;

That's chocolate all over her face... notice how when she puts her hand out for more to her brother, he takes off running ;-)

Ears Pierced

The girls got their second hole pierced in their ears the other day before we left to go out of town.... Courtney was terrified and asked everyone she knew or talked to what it felt like. She had Victoria go first so she could see if it would hurt. She's so funny!

Camping

My brother decided last year that the family needed to get together and go camping in the summer. I don't know if he was serious or not, but we all liked the idea and committed to it. We spent Father's Day weekend in Albert Pike, Arkansas, with no electricity, no showers, no port-a-potties, and no a/c. My parents got there Friday morning and found a wonderful campground (with no neighbors, just passer-bys). We had a nice swimming hole with a rock to jump off, a "man dam", a rope to swing from, and a nice shallow area for L to play in. This was the first time our family has vacationed together and everyone had a wonderful time. We hiked up the mountain to the Hole in the Rock and while most of us hiked down the trail, M and my brother decided to slide down mountainside. L got so good at walking on the rocks that she was practically running when we got home.

K's New Desk

We found this by the side of the road the other day and I had to savage it. My mom had given me a couple of real wood ones not long ago, but they were for right-handers and K isn't right handed, so he wasn't able to use them.

K picked out the color and helped me paint it. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Galveston

Yesterday, after we dropped off M's car at a friend's house in Houston to have some work done on it, we drove down to Galveston to visit the beach. K nor L had been since my cousin's wedding last summer and Courtney has been begging us to take her to the beach. Since we were only 45 minutes away, we popped on by and spent about 3 hours playing in the sand and waves. Although the girls got stung by jellyfish, and caught one, and all of us, except the younger two, got sunburned, all in all we had a good time. K is already asking to go back.

L had no reservations about playing in the water or the sand and K actually got in up to his waist. On our way home, we took the ferry and saw several dolphins "chasing" the ferry.

Summer Church Camps

Last week the girls and I helped out with our church's Vacation Bible School and Upward Cheer Camp. It was a fun filled exhausting week. Our first day of Vacation Bible School. K dressed as a bandit.... In VBS we helped in 4th grade crafts. The theme was Australian Outback and how it all comes back to Jesus. It was a wonderful week with over 50 professions of faith and over $8,000 given to help other children in other countries attend VBS. K had a good time and thoroughly enjoyed seeing Ms. Dawn have a chocolate thunder from down under poured on her head because the boys donated more than the girls.

Dawn is such a great sport!

In Upward Cheer, we led 20 1st graders around from crafts, cheer, chants, motions and jumps, and pom poms. They had a wonderful time and so did we. Oh, to have the energy of a 1st grader again.

Sibling Love

They were watching a movie together as I checked my e-mail.