I want you to know, that through Jesus. the forgiveness of sin is proclaimed to you.

Nothing can take forgiveness away from me.

Dear God,

Thank you that I have forgiveness through Jesus. Help me to forgive myself.

Amen

I look for someone to help me, but no one gives me a passing thought.

Self pity is such a difficult problem to detect in ourselves. Sarah Geringer

Dear God,

Remind me over and over again; as many times as it takes; You are my help.

Amen

I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.

You are a child of God and always will be; even when you don’t believe it.

Dear God,

Thank you that I am Your child. Thank you that You promise to lift the darkness and provide light as I walk through life.

Amen

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Welcome! This is a good day for many cups of coffee. Yesterday it was 88 degrees and today it is 38 degrees and snowing. And so, it goes when you live at a mile high.

I promised to blog whenever I get the opportunity during growing season and this is my opportunity. Everything is planted, just in time to bring all the pots that we could in the house so that they won’t freeze. I am praying over my little tomatoes and cucumbers that I had to leave out but covered up.

There was one spot of hope for spring this morning. There was a hummingbird at the feeder. The feeder has been out for about two weeks and that seems to be about what it takes for them to find it and start feeding. Remember, if you have a hummingbird feeder, only use sugar water and never honey. Bring four cups of water to a boil then dissolve in one cup of white sugar. Don’t color it either. I’m not sure why the commercial food is always colored red. It’s not for the hummingbirds, they don’t care. My butterfly feeder uses the same food. In an attempt to keep the squirrels away from the feeders, I set up a feeding station for them on the other side of the yard.

It may be a while before I get back to this. I will be traveling. In the meantime, I hope you found some ideas here to take care of the creatures in your yard. I’m not cooking much these days, so I don’t have a recipe to share this time around.

Until next time, enjoy the nature in your own back yard.

Helen

The Gardens Rule!

Hello! Please join me. I’m having my second cup of coffee and ready to get on with my day. I hope you have energy to get on with it too.

As you know, if you have followed my blog for a while, summers are busy for me and the yard and gardens take precedence over all other tasks. In the past I have tried to manage blogging in a number of ways during the summer. This year I decided to ditch the schedule and write a short note whenever I could squeeze it in. So here we go——

The weekend was a busy one. Saturday, I shopped for this year’s bedding plants and Sunday I planted them. Mother’s Day is the perfect time for planting in our little corner of the world. There is more to do and I am on my way out to continue in just a few minutes. The perennial plants that I ordered in February arrived last week and are in the ground. After putting a sprinkler system in this spring I did have to modify the original plan a bit. I am so glad I have those sprinklers!

I am even more intense than usual in the gardening arena, because we decided to have a celebration of life for Mr. M in June. Our own back yard was one of his favorite places on Earth so it seemed appropriate to have his celebration here. There is so much to do before then!

Quick dinners are what happens most often in this season. Tonight it is :

Chicken Spaghetti

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in bite size pieces

1 can of tomato sauce

garlic and Italian seasoning to taste

1/2 cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt

1 generous splash of vodka

Saute’ the chicken until it loses its pink color. Add the sauce ingredients except the vodka. Cook together to marry the flavors. In the meantime. cook eight ounces of spaghetti to al dente’ in a separate pot. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the sauce. At this point, add the splash of vodka. Mix together, then add 1 Cup of grated cheddar cheese. Mix together. So yummy! (You can also skip the sauce and buy commercial vodka sauce in the pasta section.)

Happy summer!

Until next time!

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purposes

We are loved, we belong, and we are not a mistake or a problem

Dear God,

Thank you that You work in me. I may make mistakes, but I am not a mistake.

Amen

the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.

The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is mine to claim

Dear God,

Thank you that You reveal yourself to us. All we have to do is claim it.

Amen

— think of what you were when you were called.

Do not be frightened of the truth, or of your past.

Dear God,

Thank you that I do not have to be a prisoner of my past. You have released me into new freedom.

Amen

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would not be grace.

Grace is getting what we don’t deserve.

Dear God,

Thank you that not only am I saved by grace, but I live by grace each day.

Amen

Be strong and courageous

I can be beautiful, not just good and not just right.

Dear God,

As I work today, draw me into the conversation of prayer with You.

Amen