The Heart Of A Child

"Father and mother are the most precious jewels to children as children are the most precious jewels to father and mother." Philippine proverb

"I want you to be proud of me..." say's my little Evan as he is working at zipping up his jacket.  You see he just learned this task that we adults pretty much take for granted.  He was so pleased with himself and wanted so badly for me to be as thrilled... and so came those precious, innocent words. His big blue eyes just shining with excitement... then a bit of frustration because it wasn't going so well suddenly, and then back to joy when the thing finally went up... about two minutes of labor!  Now that doesn't sound like a long time but seriously, just sit and look at a zipper for two full minutes... it's a long time...even more so for a five year old.

After all this he scampered outside just as happy as could be to where Neil & Kyle were cutting firewood to help.  He is such a big, cheerful helper... he is not content with just running the lever on the log splitter, no he wants to haul the firewood and stack it!  He want's his dad to be proud of him...

This is such human nature isn't it? We all want to feel appreciated and liked... to have friends that care for us... There is nothing wrong with this, it is natural and well meant.  We are by God's design created to be 'together', not alone.  Even the Bible talks about not forsaking the gathering together... God want's us to be together in our church services... God designed the family... He gave Eve to Adam so he wouldn't be alone...

Today as we look around at the ones we love, let us be thankful for what we have...

"You are the trip I did not take, You are the pearls I did not buy, You are my blue Italian lake, You are my piece of foreign sky." Anne Campbell

Until next time,
Jean

The Love of a Mother...

Their smiles... their tears... watching them while they're sleeping...
I love to watch them when they have no idea... their care free spirits... their realness...

I wonder if they could ever imagine the love that overflows in my heart for each of them...
I wonder if they realize that their souls are intertwined with mine...
When they hurt I hurt...
When they laugh I laugh...
When they long I long...

Sometimes the frustrations we feel as mothers can be overwhelming... sometimes we just feel like giving up... then you look into their eyes and the heart pull is so strong.

Sometimes it seems useless and they just will never learn or understand...

I watched him this afternoon outside... he didn't know I was watching... his strong hands playing with the dog... his smile and jolly demeanor... his sensitive nature for all creatures...

I watched him today walking through the yard... looking around for his brothers... he is growing so fast and becoming a man...  in between little boy and big boy...

I watched him today as he strode up the stairs... manly and strong... so handsome... quiet natured and deep... I have always said that deep waters run silent... that is his soul...

I watched her today as she drove away... a young woman she is becoming... working her way in the world... trying to find herself and know herself... she is so tender hearted and warm, yet with a wild streak...

When I look at them and watch... my heart wants nothing more than to protect them from every harm in the world...  to just make them listen to me and trust what I tell them...
Then I remember myself when I was that age... experience

Prayer is a mothers weapon... it is our ever trust worthy weapon in this war fare for their souls...  We can never give up praying, trusting the Father... praying that hedge about them...

"Love is unselfish, understanding, and kind, for it sees with its heart and not with its mind.  Love gives and forgives; there is nothing too much for love to heal with its magic touch.  Love is the language that every heart speaks, for love is the one thing that every heart seeks.  And where there is love God, too,will abide and bless the family residing inside."  Helen Steiner Rice

Until next time,
Jean

Stumble and Pray

"They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing."  Psalm 34:10

When our children started taking their first steps they would stumble and fall and we would keep encouraging them on... "keep trying... good job... yup, do it again..." are things that we would say.  They would stumble often at first and then before we knew it they were running and we were saying, "Stop running in the house!"  We didn't want them to fall and hurt themselves, yet we knew that was all part of the process... we would be close enough to catch them so they didn't hurt themselves as we guided them along... hands outstretched behind them as they toddled forward.   How time flies and as we look back onto those happy days when they were little and learning we can see other times when they fell... learning to ride a bike and ice skating to name a couple.  Oh how our hearts ached when all of a sudden, THUD! But again... all part of the learning process.

As adults we too stumble and fall... we have days where we fail... days we wish we could erase from time and memories... but that isn't possible with humans... but it is with God. As we repent for our failings and look unto Him for forgiveness He is there... The Bible says that God loves a broken and contrite heart.  Each day is a new day and with that new day we have Christ by our side guiding our way.  How it aches our Heavenly Father when we go THUD! The key is prayer... stumble and pray... stumble and pray... He will lead the way... all part of the learning process.

Do we call out to the Lord when we stumble or do we sit there awhile and wallow in our failings?  The latter is not what the Lord would want from us... He desires us to look up to Him immediately, reaching up for His hand to pick us up.  But you say, there is no hand... Yes my friend there is... the hand is His Word... God's precious promises are all found there... but we must turn to it... feed on it. Then and only then can we have peace... only there can we find it. When we stumble and fall friends, get up! Reach for His word and seek His help.  Oh how precious it is when He presses upon your heart to go to a certain scripture and there is the answer or the hope you were longing for .... only in prayer... only in supplication can it be found...

"Prayer is an indispensable part of our relationship with Jesus Christ." Laurel Oke Logan

Until next time,
Jean

What a beautiful day

"This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.." Psalms 118:24
What a beautiful day... I love summer!  Honestly though I can't believe we are already to coming to the end of June... where does the time go?  Soon we will be looking at the beautiful colors that Autumn will bring and then for me the dreaded snow of winter.  But let's not focus on that... I am in my summer and I am happy to be here.
There are a lot of things to get us down in the dumps... but there is so much more if we only take the time to look that will bring joy into every day... Right now I hear the birds chirping away... saying 'good morning' to all who will listen... the sun is shining... the sky is blue... there is a gentle breeze that is making  the tops of all the plants flutter about... and then there is the quiet all around... a simple quiet that allows my thoughts to focus on higher things... thoughts of all I have to be thankful for...
A cheery thought...
"You are never alone... there's truly nothing we need know if we have faith wherever we go.  God will be there to help us bear our disappointments, pain, and care, for He is our Shepherd, our Father, our Guide.  You're never alone with the Lord at your side."   Helen Steiner Rice
Until next time,
Jean

A Hard Day's Work...

I love working with my children.  The boys are hard workers, tilling, hoeing, weeding, planting, hauling wheel barrows of straw from the barn for me to mulch the beds.  I love my children, they bring a joy to my heart that only a mother can know...

Yesterday we planted another row of asparagus and a new patch of raspberries... how exciting to me. We mulched the grapes and one of the asparagus rows... Ryan and Evan picked up weeds to dump and Ethan tilled away... it was a good day! 

Taylor was with the youth yesterday in Chicago at The Museum of Science and Industry.  They were going to go into the coal mines... she was nervous... I don't blame her, you couldn't pay me to go into that thing... claustrophobia... no way!  I told her to use me as an excuse and say that I told her she wasn't allowed to go in... (I did try that) she is eighteen now, but I told her that she can always use me for an excuse whenever she doesn't want to do something.  I don't care if any of her friends like me or not... it is her that I care about.  It's not that I am  worried about her friends trying to get her to do bad things or her doing them... I just want her to know that my only concern is for her well being because I love her so much...

Isn't that what we as parents need to be for our children... their advocates right?  After all no one will ever love your child as much as you do... they will never know the depth of that love unless they have a child of their own.

But wait, there is One...  Have you ever thought about the depth of that love... I often think about God's love for me and the depth of His love... giving His only son to die such a horrible death as the cross... for me... what love, what unsearchable love the Father has bestowed upon me...  and you.

Until next time,
Jean

Quality vs. Quantity...

"Take a 'vacation' from television for a week and see what happens.  Set out some long-forgotten table games, craft materials, family photo albums and favorite story books where they'll be easily spotted."  Taken from "A Dad After God's Own Heart", by Paul Lewis

Quality family time is so important to the well being of our relationships within the family structure.

We use to have what our family called Friday Family Fun Night where we would play games, go to the lake for a picnic, play restaurant or whatever else one of us might want to do.  Sometimes we would let one of the children pick while other times Neil or I would choose an activity.  Now that we do farmers markets on Saturdays year round, we don't get to do this any longer.  Our older children still talk about those fun times.  Ethan happened to mention it last evening while getting ready for market which got me thinking... during the school year we try to do things on Sundays, but don't do it as faithfully as we did FFFN.  Summer time is much easier simply because there is no school in the morning. We will often do fun things like go to Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum on Mondays, go to the zoo or go out to the lake... things aren't quite as busy on Monday as the weekends which makes it much nicer in my opinion.

Although it doesn't always have to be an event... Time spent together as a family doing the simplest activity like reading a family story... sitting by a campfire staring at the stars... playing "eye spy"... playing scrabble or chess,or even putting puzzles  together.  These things will create the memories that will last a life time. It will also help settle a positive habit for our children for their families, Lord willing they have one. 

This week go for walk or a bike ride as a family... take a drive up North... go get an ice cream cone and just talk... our children in this day and age of technology need us as parents to guild the way back to simpler times... enjoy each other.

Until next time,
Jean
    

Hidden Treasures

"The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed."  Charlotte Bronte

In life we have many secrets... I don't mean bad things, I mean the good ones that we cherish and share with only the closest of loved ones.  Secrets shared by husband and wife, by sister's & brothers, by the very dearest friends... secrets of those we would never betray. We all have secret dreams and hopes for our children, our futures, our retirement years...  things we hope to accomplish, goals we strive to meet, places we wish to go and so on could go the list. 

When you were a child did you ever do the 'blood sister/brother' thing- the 'swearsies' to always keep that secret? I remember doing all those silly childish things... but when I was a child it was for real, it meant something.  Our children come to us now with their hearts secret hopes and fears, they come with laughter and tears, joys and sorrows... in secret they come to us.  We must always respect their hearts pouring out, their sharing, their trust in us... and we must always keep praying, praying and praying.

As the song goes, "prayer is the hearts sincere desire"... 

Until next time,
Jean
    

Mothering

"Every true mother realizes at times that her children are only loaned to her- sent from God- and the attributes of her body and mind are being used by Power for a Purpose.  The thought tends to refine the heart of its dross, obliterate pride and make her feel the sacredness of her office.  All good men everywhere recognize the holiness of motherhood- the miracle by which the race survives." Elbert Hubbbarb

At times being a mother is terribly difficult.  When training is necessary for the good of the child, yet the mother heart longs to simply hold and make everything alright for them.  Learning life's lessons are surely a trial and a difficult part of life, but also a part that will hopefully build the character they will need to make the right choices as adulthood comes. Life is filled with choices.... some choices are by far more weighing and life influencing than others.  It is such a trial for me with allowing my older children to try their wings... to let them fly away a bit and trust them to make good decisions... youth is so exciting and the senses become so enlightened.  As parents we do all we can to try to protect them from making the same mistakes we have made... we try to ensure they don't experience the pains of those mistakes because we love them so much...

But then where is my faith and my trust that God really is in control?  I know He has promised that, '..train them up in the way they should go, and they will not depart from it..."  I must believe and trust.

Until next time,
Jean

Parenting...

"A father's goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother's goodness deeper than the sea." Source Unknown

Being a parent is one of the greatest challenges as well as joys any human can know.  It brings with it a multitude of responsibilities including teaching, nurturing, admonishing and unconditionally loving to name just a few.  All these things are part of our daily lives from the moment they are born into our families until the day they leave the nest.  I have often said that I don't think I will ever go through that 'empty nest syndrome'. I don't know... It seems like each stage that they go through from baby days of crawling into walking into running and then the day of marriage taking them of to start a life of their own is something I look forward to.  Those future days to come, Lord willing... I don't see them as a loss, but as part of a completion to hopefully 'a job well done'.  A day that they can go forth on their own and live a life that will bring them happiness and fulfillment serving God in their lives. 

Children can cause us parents both joy and sorrow and I believe that can go the other way as well.  I pray that our children will know the love in our heart's for each of them all the days of their life.

"We never know the love of our own parents for us until we become parents." Henry Ward Beecher 

Until next time,
Jean

Raising Them Up...

"To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself."  Josh Billings

I had so much fun with Evan today; we planted in the Kitchen Garden!  We were talking about potatoes and the eyes on them and how to plant them; as I dug the hole and cut the potato, he patiently waited and then would set it into the hole and carefully cover it with the dirt.  I explained to him that a green plant would grow up and when it gets flowers we can start sneaking potatoes from under the dirt off its roots. He was pleased to know that when it was time to dig them up we would all say 'thank you' to him for planting them.  He also got to seed some spinach and plant some onions and garlic.  He was so happy to tell his big brothers what he had done when they got home today. 

This week we have been hard at it outside. Neil finished putting on the front of the one hoop house today; when the boys got home from school Kyle helped him get the door made & hung; Ethan fixed my leaky hose and put a new end on it; Ethan & I weeded some of the raised beds; Ethan & Ryan fetched several loads of straw from the barn; then Ryan & I planted three kinds of beets and mulched the beds with newspaper & straw.  What a wonderful day it was when we can all work together.

Some of you may be saying, "Where was Taylor & the baby?" Well Taylor was doing what she loves to do~ she was baking brownies and getting supper ready. Although she did get one of the flower beds 'almost' fully weeded.  She likes to be outside, but not near as much as in the kitchen.  We balance each other out perfectly~ she loves the inside stuff & I love the outside stuff!  Although when the work is heavy, we work together both in & out!  She is with the youth group 'sucker fishing' this evening having a grand time I am sure!  And the baby, he is 'everywhere', literally!

As I thought on this quote the first thing I thought of was being in the garden with the children; but then my mind moved on to a different place I also want to be them.  I need to live my life so that they will see the road I am trying to stay on and want that road for themselves as well~ the road to the most beautiful Garden there ever will be....Heaven.

Until next time,
Jean

Kindness Begets Kindness

"Never lose a chance of saying a kind word."  William Makepeace Thackeray

Have you ever been in line at the grocery store, or at a park sitting on the bench or just going for a walk and someone asks you a question?  I am sure everyone reading this can say a hardy yes! It may be an elderly person, a small child, or a busy mom.  You are kind of having a not so hot day and you are really not in the mood to be 'sociable'. You have two choices~ either snub your noes and give a curt, short answer or put on a smile and answer cheerfully and make small talk.  It can make all the difference in your day as well as that persons.

As a professing Christian I try to show the latter, but believe me I have failed more often than I care to confess.  But you know what, there isn't always going to be another day, another chance to do the kind deed or make things right.  Everyday is a new day, but even when we don't feel like being nice, we need to try, try with all our might.  I need to be constantly on guard for an opportunity to show Christ's love and be that light to a sad person.  I need to be an example for my children to see how Christ's love can shine a light through me to those around.  A wise dear old friend has a sign in her bathroom that reads, "More is caught than taught."  A kind word can never be mistook and it won't quickly be forgotten.

Until next time,
Jean

Got Mud?

Mud is a big factor around here in the spring, one we all can get a bit frustrated with. Taylor bought a sign that says 'got mud?' at a flea market last spring which now hangs in our back entry.  This is where we typically all come into the house. She is often the one that 'get's' to clean the back entry, so she felt very justified in putting this question out to, um, should I say 'the men of the house'.  The big boys do have this chore at least once a week, but they do all the outside in the cold chores and Taylor & I 'get' to do the warm & cozy inside chores.  Yes, I do mean 'get to'.  Here we go on perspective again.  I would never want to do Neil & the boys chores~ not any day of the week.  They 'get' to feed & water the hogs, clean pen's & put fresh bedding down, cut firewood, haul the trash out to the dumpster and do what I believe to be the 'hard' jobs.  Taylor & I get to do what I refer to as the 'cooshy' jobs, like cooking meals in a warm & cozy home, wash dishes with warm water, do laundry in a warm laundry room, rock the baby in a soft rocking chair with a soothing cup of coffee, flipping through magazines or a good book.  I am so thankful that Neil & boys enjoy their jobs and they in turn I believe are thankful we enjoy ours.  Now don't get me wrong, Neil & the boys also love to be in the kitchen, can & do switch loads of laundry, sweep floors, set & clear dinner tables, wash & put dishes away.  My men are very resourceful! Now, Taylor & I 'could' also load & unload fifty pound hog feed bags, run the tractor and clean pens~ if we really had too~ but thankfully Neil never asks me to do any of those things :-) !

The key here is that there are things that each of 'need's to do to help the others.  We are a team and need to work together to get 'all' the jobs done. 

Until next time,
Jean  

Slow Down...

"Always leave home with a tender goodbye and loving words. They may be the last."  Hill

How often do we mutter a quick 'good bye' or a hurried 'see ya later' as we are rushing out the door?  Probably more often than we think or wish to realize I am afraid.  We all allow ourselves to get too busy in life, after all there are things that need to get done, right? Of course there is, but  where do say, 'OK, this is enough'?   Where do we draw the line of need's to and want's to?  Troubles can often steal the seeds of happiness in ones life before they can even be planted.  We need to guard those seeds carefully.  Our children, spouses, friends as well as acquaintances need always to feel and sense our love.

Our little guy Evan is sick right now.  He has the same terrible head & chest cold I had the other week.  I look into his little face and hear him cough and it just breaks my heart.  He has been so whiny with it and just not his happy~go~lucky little self.   As I look on the above quote and think how quickly our loved ones can be snatched into eternity, it reminds me of how important showing that love is.  Take the time to hold their hands, listen to their stories, wipe their tears and of course say a tender good bye...

Until next time,
Jean

Time

"Time is...
Too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice; but for those who love, time is not."   Henry Van Dyke

Taylor & the older boys were showing Aaron & Evan a herd of deer in the neighbors field the other morning.  Their eyes were so big as they watched them dig around and then quickly dash off.  Small children are so fascinated & awed with the simplest things in life.  We adults on the other hand typically make life harder than it really needs to be.  When life is lived for self I think things can get more complicated and it's joy can be lost.  When we give ourselves over to making others happy I believe their can be an abundance of peace in one's heart. 

As I look into the everyday of life and think about how very short it is, I stop and look at what really matters. I need to continually evaluate the choices I make and decide what stays & what goes.  We gauge most everything we do by the amount of time it takes and if it is worth our 'time' to do it.  This goes for our job, relationships & hobbies just to name a few.  The next step is to evaluate  the worth this has in our life~ whether it be uplifting or deflating.  Decisions need to be made, although not always easy, but definitely necessary.  The choices we make today will effect the rest of our lives, either positively or negatively, so choose wisely we must do!  What do we do when these situations arise in our lives?  Some stagger along hopelessly, some simply quit, while others look up....

Until next time,
Jean

Tribulations in Life...

"When thou art in tribulation, turn to the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 4:30

The other day on the way to market we saw a car in the ditch and almost covered with snow.  It did not look nice at all.  I am sure when that person got into the vehicle he/she never intended to end up in the ditch.  It had to be a sickening feeling as they slid and went thump. It  appeared that no one was injured and only the car remained in this unfortunate position.  There are days when each of may feel like we are in a ditch and can't get out, stuck in the mud shall we say.  Tribulations will come and need to be dealt with even when they are unexpected, unwanted and unasked for.  Something has to be done, but what we ask ourselves, what?  When your head wants to hang low... when your shoulders feel to weak to bear another load... when your heart doesn't feel like it can be broken again... when....

So often situations come upon us that perplex us to the point of just not knowing what to do.  We try with all our might to get things fixed or repaired on our own strength, when all we really need to do is cry out to the Lord. He cares and He hears, no matter what...

Until next time,
Jean

A Light Unto The World

A friend shared this with me.... I thought awhile....

The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door.  She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally ... I assumed you had stolen the car."

Let your light shine,
Until next time,
Jean

Unconditional Love & Appreciation

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller

Today Evan & I were in the green house again, him playing in the dirt box and me seeding pepper's, eggplants, lettuces and more herbs.  I am getting some things ready for the plant swap at the winter market.  It was 80degrees in there and the warmth of the sunshine felt so good.  Evan wanted to go bare foot, and really it would have been warm enough, but I thought not yet little buddy.  His big blue eyes looked at me and suddenly he said to me, "Mom, know how much I love you?" Of course he wanted to me to say no and ask how much, so I humored my little boy.  "I love you all da'way to da' stars & moon mom."  "I love you that much too Evan".  When I saw this quote from Helen Keller who couldn't see any of the beautiful things that I get to gaze upon each day, I thought of this moment with Evan. He is so sweet and little and his unconditional love for me never seems to fail. 

Unconditional love is not always an easy thing to give but when we bestow it upon the unworthy it always comes back three fold.  When we give a smile, we are sure to receive one back.... when we give a listening ear to a weary soul, we will someday be rewarded with a caring friend.... when we give a helping hand, we will indeed be helped some time in one of our times of need. 

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails..."  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Until next time,
Jean

Life's Happy Moments

"Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." Charles Dickens

The sun is shining and the day is absolutely beautiful.  Neil & I went for a stroll in the green house to look things over and the plants are growing famously.  You add a few days of sunshine and some smelly fish fertilizer and wow, how things burst forward- or should I say upward.

This brings me to another type of growing, what we allow to grow in us.  I am a gardener through & through which means  I relate a lot of things to growing and what it takes to make them mature.  Love for instance only grows when we are happy, content, peaceable, respectful, friendly and most importantly lovable.  Love can't grow through anger and bitterness nor can it grow through disrespect and thoughtlessness.  Just as a tiny seed must be nurtured, so must love in any relationship.  Plants need four things to grow: a container of some sort with a growing medium, moisture and  sunshine. If I were to water the seeds with vinegar they would never grow.  The two main ingredients to a happy relationships are love & respect. Most ladies want to be loved and most men want to be respected.  These two ingredients make for a much more friendly environment and when applied liberally you watch things grow. It's not always that easy is it?  Not at all, but this is where the growing part comes in.  I once heard, "Feed what you want to grow and starve what you want to die."  There is a lot of wisdom in this and can be attributed to just about every aspect of life.

I find as I feed my Christian walk with 'good stuff' I grow upward and this helps with the everyday stuff that happens in life.  When I slack off and start starving myself of the 'good stuff' then I start on a downward slope.  Each day is a choice on what I will feed or starve.  It is for each one of us...
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Until next time,
Jean

The Little Things...

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize that they were the big things."  Robert Brault

The little things in life are typically the things that get overlooked wouldn't you agree?  In this world of technology and all the 'fast' everything, what are we really missing? 

How often do you lay flat on your back on the cool summer grass with your child and look for shapes in the clouds.... How often do you go for a walk down a shady lane and just listen....  How often do you look at all the stars in the sky on a clear night and just gaze in awe.... How often do you sit on your porch in the evening and listen to all the night sounds.... How often do you sit by a quiet stream and just watch the water trickle past...How often do you just talk to your spouse or child... How often do we just do nothing?

I have a picture of Evan bending over to smell some lavender, he loves lavender!  It is so sweet and innocent.   I love to watch the children climb the trees, play hide 'n' seek, hear them tell spooky stories (all mostly taught to them by Neil :-) ) around a campfire eating & making a mess with s'mores.  These are the things memories are made of.  We don't have to take over priced vacations and camping trips to do these things.  We have it all around us everyday.  We just have to take the time to find them and then do them. That childlike innocence and simple way of just being, we as a people are losing faster and faster everyday.  We need to stop and grab hold of it and hold on tight!  Today, make the time. 

Until next time,

Jean

'But the greatest of these is love...'

When we love our neighbor as our self we can find a happiness that flows freely.  It's not always so easy to love though.  We get frustrated and irritated over silly 'little' things and then love is not shown.  How do we show love freely despite those irritations that creep up over us?  "That is the question", as Shakespeare once wrote.  Friends & Family are the ones that love & irritation are most often showered upon.  Love must reign though and to love unconditionally can sometimes be a challenge.  I think again it's like those 'expectation's' I wrote about awhile back- more is expected of others than myself?  When the cup of juice gets tipped over at the supper table for the umpteenth time, it's hard to not get impatient.  Every mother out there knows what I am saying!  But then I look into that sweet little four or nine year old's repentant eyes and remember the dish of corn I spilled on the counter just before supper.... They are so little and so sweet and they won't be for long... oh for wisdom and patience... I am not perfect and I am so thankful for all those that except me with all my short comings- oh that I can be that loving...

Love can cover a multitude of sins. 
Until next time,
Jean