How do I look in Yellow?

A few months ago Mema gave me a coffee cup with a sunflower on it.  She told me that I was her sunflower.

Now this particular member of the floral species has not ever really been my favorite. When I was, like, nine I had a cow trough full of morning glories.  My dear brothers had to water them every day for me cuz it was too big of a job for a princess like me to undertake.

 ANYWAY, lately sunflowers have begun to grow on me :)  After I got that cup I brought it with me (with tea in it)  to a morning singing time at "Abba's Swing." Mama Faith noticed it and pointed it out. She said that I was a sunflower because of my cheerful attitude. Then everyone started commenting and someone else said "Yeah and they're strong, their roots go deep."

Ever noticed a sunflower? I've started to. They're tall and they grow straight up reaching for the sun! And one thing I've learned (when I tried to grow some in my backyard) is that they can't survive unless they are completely in the light of the sun -- Always. They are so bold and yellow - cheerful. They're also really hairy! Ok! Dont want to be a sunflower in THAT way!

Sooo, I hope I'm a sunflower. I hope I am always growing towards the Son, I hope I am ever-cheerful and take things in stride (as long as it's not a lawn mower) I hope I can be strong, bold, beautiful and a wonder to all who see me.   Just one question:  how do I look in yellow?

Christianity is NOT for Wimps!

     Recently I had a talk with a friend. I did not like the way I had seen him treat someone younger than himself. The younger one was rude but this rudeness was not met with patient correction. My friend thought that what he did was OK and that is was just the way things were between older and younger boys. I did not think it was right at all especially in the kingdom of God.
     I got to thinking and thought of someone else this friends age whom I have a lot of respect for. I knew that he would never mistreat someone younger even if he did not particularly like that person. I knew that he would be kind and respectful.
     Oh how easy it is to choose rudeness! Oh how difficult to say something nice when sarcasm is shoving forward on the tip of your tongue! What a fight to be good, humble, kind, patient, respectful, silent! When was the last time you had to struggle to say something mean when someone was annoying you? Probably never, right?
     Respect. You can get it by two methods:   Intimidation or love. The former is a respect where others end up not knowing how to be around you. They probably learn to stay away and not to stand up to you. When you are never contradicted you may think you have gained respect, but you have really lost it.
     The latter (love) respecting others, treating them as if they really matter, as if they are equals. What a more stout respect you will find! Others will want to be around you, they will desire to please you and they'll talk about how they love you. They know you respect them, that you care. You are respected, and, miraculously, loved. This is the way it should be - at least in the kingdom of God.
     Many people who are tough and mean look really strong but deep down they are just afraid and have fallen back on the easiest thing to do. They put on a false outer layer. Someone meek and kind may look very weak in the worlds eyes but they have found the truth and have stepped out in courage to stand up for what they believe. Christianity is not for wimps!
   


   

..the best way to know God is to love many things (and many people) -vincent van gogh

(I added that last part on the Van Gogh quote above. I dont think he meant things when he said things.
I think he meant flowers and hummingbirds, trees and waterfalls and, yes, people) I feel funny blogging because I don't have many major things happening in my life at the moment like others do.

I was going to write about myself but... I think I will talk about those I love.
Papa Shammah. He is one of the sweetest dads in the village and he has always been such a papa for me. We haven't necessarily had amazing conversations or done really fun stuff together or anything. He's just been there as a shoulder to lean on. Someone to stand next to and sing with during worship of our God. I love how he sings. I love how, when most everyone else is silent, he is singing in his most not-self conscious way! I've started doing that same thing after him, singing at random times. Caleb does it too :-)

I love the Horsts. Papa Asher is like papa Shammah. He is there for you and he's just so comforting to have around. I love Mama Gannah's spunkiness, kindness, wisdom, and bravery. She is wonderful.
Evelyn. She is so beautiful. She has the loveliest smile and she uses it a lot. Evelyn is a great friend and she is so tender. She loves God and her family so much and cares so much for others!

Suzie. What a friend! She really cares about people! She takes care of me. I love her very much. Friday I got in on the bowling trip at the very last minute. Suzie was very concerned that I didn't have a ride and she got a whole other vehicle just for me!! Gosh she is great. Nobody tell her about this blog post! She hates being fawned over, and I admit I am one of the biggest offenders!

                                      

This weekend I went to the Memphis "gatehouse." I go to visit there from time to time to help Ayala out with kids and the housework. A few years ago when she still lived in the Selmer village, I used to come and do the same every week. We called her my second mom but really she's like a much older sister :) I had a wonderful time helping with the kids (especially Aya's baby, Naomi) swimming at the Y, making homemade granola bars, and going to the little boys baseball games. It was at one of these games that I saw a really cute elderly couple. They both had on sun hats and sunglasses and they took such good care of eachother. I decide to complement them and find out how long they'd been together. Adel, the woman told me they'd been married forty-eight years then she went on to ask about me and my interests. I told her I did irish dancing. "I love that! We love to watch River Dance too!" she told me. I told her about Wind Dance and, what do you know? They had seen us! Totally awesome! Our conversation continued and we talked about my interest in massage. The husband Charleston had to "sample" my skills :)  Then we talked about what we believed about Jesus and Christianity. They seemed to have the same views as us - in the belief that Christ is love and that you must not judge others but love them. It was a good conversation and I'm glad I talked to them. Not sure what will come out of it, but thank you, Lord.

In April, I entered the Tennessee Magazine's art contest. The theme was "Anything I Want" so I chose to draw a photo I had taken of my best friend's sister, Donna, with whom I work at our local store. Also in the picture is our little friend Doron. WELL, today as I was coming home from town I hoped to find this issues magazine in the mail so I could see the contest results. Little did I expect to find an envelope addressed to me with TWO magazines inside AND a fifty dollar check AND a certificate of placement in the first place!!! Thank you God!! I had sent my art in late and could have gotten at most 2nd or 3rd place but I got 1st! :) :) :)

Spring Adventures

                                                       here are all my latest spring adventures

                                          Planting a garden...

                 Murdering black widows who think my shower is a good place to make a home-WRONG!!

                               Planting my strawberries in pots- not on the ground where snails like to eat them

                                          Raising a baby bird - this is him when i first got him

      This is him now. I wish he would start eating his food by himself so i can set him free, but he insists on standing in it!

                             The 18th was mom's birthday so I made her breakfast in bed :) <3

Rachel Learns a Lesson

Today I learned an important lesson. And I thank God that I live here or I would never have learned it. I learned that I must slow down....That I must listen to and pay attention to people...That I must not assume that I know what is best. I learned this through massage.