Lessons from a Tomato Plant

I love gardening (I use the term loosely). I enjoy being outdoors pulling weeds, mulching, the whole nine yards. Sparta told me he would till up a little spot so I could have a few vegetables this year. I bought the plants and waited. Now over two months later, I am still waiting. Since the plants were beginning to look a little sad in their tiny containers, I filled some Rubbermaid storage totes with potting soil and transferred them over.

My eight little tomato plants perked right up and are really pretty, but that won't last long there's not enough room for their sustained growth. Several years ago I put out a tomato plant that quite accidently thrived. It survived a late freeze. I learned a few things from that little plant. The first thing I took away from it was that even when it looks like we might be out for the count, there is still hope. After the freeze, the plant appeared completely dead but within a couple of weeks it had greened up near it's base.

The next thing I learned was that you can't just let a tomato plant grow anyway it wants. While I believed that any growth must be a good thing, I was wrong. It must be pruned in order to produce the healthiest and largest fruit. There are side stems, also called suckers, that will deplete the primary stem of nutrients so that it will not have many tomatoes or the ones it does grow will be smaller and less tasty. It really bothered me to cut the suckers off; it felt weird to harm something that seemed healthy. However, by keeping the plant free from this growth in unwanted areas, it was able to absorb more of the sun and make more sugar for the fruit. How amazing is that? All that puts me in mind of how God works in my life. Even though it might appear that I am thriving and growing sometimes that new growth is just a sucker that needs to be pruned. The choices, some of which seem good, may be taking me in a direction that God never intended for me to go.

One last thing with the plant, I found myself able to pick tomatoes from my deck. The deck was about ten feet above the ground and the plant grew to be over twelve feet tall. Never had I seen such a tall plant before then and never since then have I seen another. It produced close to 100 tomatoes and didn't break from the weight. I had trouble finding enough people to take those plump red things off my hands so that they would not be wasted. God used that plant in my life to teach me lessons in unexpected ways. I understand more about producing good fruit and the necessity of pruning. I understand that even though there are some tough and often surprising circumstances in life, times when it appears hopeless, there is hope. I learned that God can take something weak  and give strength that is beyond understanding.

Here's the real kicker in the whole tomato plant experience, I don't even eat tomatoes.

Unexpected Adventure- The Bass Pro Shop

 Sparta's new boss told him that part of his management improvement plan is for Sparta to hit golf balls during lunch once a week (yes, he was serious). Of course, Sparta needed new drivers and the fine folks at the Macon Bass Pro Shop pointed us to the Lawrenceville store for golfing equipment. So last night off we went- without directions, without the Tom-Tom. Sparta "remembered" how to get there from the one time he passed it about 5 years ago.  After 90 minutes in Atlanta traffic, and 20 minutes of not knowing how to get to the store once we exited the interstate we saw it- the illustrious big green fish atop the building. 

I am not an outdoorsy kind of woman and Bass Pro Shop is not on my list of top ten stores to browse but last night I loved it.  Wesley went with us and it was his first time there. As we entered he was rendered momentarily speechless.  His eyes got big and his mouth dropped open, then with awe in his voice he said, "this is EVERY boy's dream".  The rock wall, the arcade, the educational aquarium, the fishing equipment, the boats--everything but golf gear. We spent some time looking at the boats and imagining how much  quality family time could be spent aboard one. Never mind that we haven't been to a lake in 10 years or that the payments quoted spread out over twelve years almost doubling the final costs of the $23,000.00 model. As we left the store, Wesley said, "this is the best day can you bring me here everyday".  He certainly was not upset to leave the store without finding the thing we had gone to find or with frustration over drive time and being lost for a bit.

We didn't come home with golf clubs, we didn't come home with the 24 person pontoon boat.  We did come home with each other and some very good memories.    

                       Like the old Rolling Stones song says-

                         oh, you can't always get what you want 

                         oh, you can't always get what you want,

                         but if you try sometimes  you just might  find

                         you get what you need

What we needed was time together and a few laughs.  Thank you God for my family and unexpected joy.

On Motherhood

Mom I need.....a new swimsuit, field trip money, gas money, stuff for my project that is due tomorrow.  Mom what's for dinner, do we have band-aids, can I go, will you take me, where are my shoes?  Endless needs, endless questions. As mother's day weekend approaches I am not sentimentally reflecting on the glories of motherhood.  Nope, not me. I am looking forward to the day when dishes are not growing mold in the dark corners of bedrooms that look like they should be declared hazardous waste areas. I am looking forward to finding my jewelry, toiletries and shoes in the places I left them. I am looking forward to fewer eye rolls and more civilized conversations.  If I never pull another pair of dirty socks out from the couch or clean any of a variety of bodily fluids out of carpet again I will not be saddened.

A friend recently celebrated the end of an era. After eleven and a half years her home is now teen free. When Wesley turns twenty our time in teendom will total 15 years consecutively and I don't even want to know the concurrent number. I love my children and cherish all the precious memories that have come because of them. I know that being a mother has made me a better person it was either become more patient and understanding or become a convicted felon.  I think I made the right choice.

Brett Michaels and Beth Moore

In my big hair days, I went to many concerts.  Most of them in the hard rock genre.  Poison, Aerosmith, Motley Crue...you get the idea.  Most of the concerts were general admission and tickets were only about $18, so we who lived from ramen noodle to ramen noodle could afford to go. It was a fantastic time.
My best friend and I had a method for getting up to the stage and we were certain that Slash and Vince made eye contact. Ahhh.....the good old days. Now that method was to look for gaps in the crowd particularly within groups of guys and then shimmy right through. If it was a tough crowd you might need to use an elbow on occasion.

This weekend I had opportunity to attend a Beth Moore conference with about 10,000 other women. I never would have believed those skills would be necessary in a group of Christian women but I kid you not,  the desire to be up close and personal with Beth was apparently enough to cause a few women to lose their religion. There was pushing and shoving and even  a few line breakers. One woman fainted?? as her husband stood near holding her purse and looking quite nonplussed. Fortunately, she was okay and immediately escorted inside to a seat---front row center stage. You tell me was it for real?

My sister, Tammy, and my daughter, Leah,  and I got there really early and secured a spot first in line at one of the entrances. After we had been standing in wait for three and a half hours, one woman had the audacity to maneuver her way up and try to get in before us.  As she engaged the person who would be taking our tickets in conversation, she planted herself firmly to our right with the intention of going in first.  Being that I have experience in that type of behavior I recognized it straight away and stood in front of her, both elbows out making comments that she no doubt could hear. She was wrong but I was too. Neither of us exhibited the attitude of Christ. Beth managed to inspire and excite in spite of us.

Now you might be asking yourself what on earth can this have to do with Brett Michaels. Well, when we got back from the conference I read about his brain hemorrhage and saw that he was in critical condition. I hated it because I've always enjoyed his music. Sometimes my train of thought jumps from track to track and this was one of those times. I started thinking about the Poison concert specifically and the number of people who were and still are so enthralled by his celebrity. So instead of just saying "aww that's too bad"  I began to pray for him and hope that this would be the beginning of something wonderful for him, that a near death experience would bring him to know the Father and Son and to glorify His name. Can you imagine the testimony his life would be.

Churches Should Have ICU's

Each Sunday morning I attend a great Sunday school class with women I adore.  It never ceases to amaze me what each of us is going through  or has gone through.  We are a diverse group of women, some married, some divorced, some mothers, some emptynesters. Believe me when I say we have some issues.  Some of us have not healed from past hurts and others of us are freshly wounded. My point in this is that we have a relationship with Jehovah-Raphe, the Lord who Heals. We are blessed and believe me, we know it. 
My concern is for those who don't know Him. When they visit the church broken and bleeding do they find comfort and care?  How intimidating must it be for someone who is seeking something, to walk into a class of those who seem to have it together.
I wonder if our classes were named things like "Wounded and Walking", "Women in Need", "Hope Is a Four Letter Word", "Finding Happiness Where You Are with I AM"  or something else along those lines, if maybe more people could let their brokenness show instead of pretending to have it altogether. Would we touch more lives?

I have heard so many people say things like when I get it together I'll come back to (or start attending) church and I can't go to church, what would people think of me.  It shouldn't be that way.  Our churches should be like hospitals.  Places where you seek help when things seem the worst. A place where you can see, hear and feel the love of God and for God. A place of hope, a place of rest for the worn out soul a respite from the world.  I get the feeling that many churchgoers go there with the attitude that it is more like a spa day. You know something nice to do for oneself- have a little fellowship, detox from the workweek, or maybe even be inspired.  I have done that very thing myself upon occcasion. I hope to be more aware from now on of "why" I am there and not of "what" I am there.

Uh-Oh It's Politics

Today I need to rant. I am sick of hearing that universal healthcare is a "right".  Our constitution does not speak of universal rights, but of individual ones.  We are, as the Declaration of Independence says endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
Nowhere in the bible does God list these rights, He gives commands and responsibilities but not rights. Those which He gives are not for His own benefit but they are beneficial to us. 

 Back in the day when our country's forefathers went about establishing  the framework of this nation two books were the primary source of reference "The Bible" and "Blackstone's Commentaries on  the Law".  Those two titles  were the first and second best-selling books of 1775 according to the Fiedor Report in an article titled "Those Unalienable Rights" on 2/23/2003.  Our rights are taken from Blackstone's not the bible. Blackstone in Chapter One of Book One spoke of the absolute rights of individuals being the right to life, liberty and property.  When the rights are further explained, we understand them to mean.

LIFE -- The Right of Personal Security: "This right consists of a person's legal and uninterrupted enjoyment of his life, his limbs, his body, his health and his reputation." Herein can also be found your right of self defense.




LIBERTY -- The Right of Personal Liberty: "This consists in the power of locomotion, of changing situation, of moving one's person to whatever place one's own inclination may direct, without imprisonment or restraint, unless by course of law." We find this right protected, to a limited extent, within the body of our Constitution, and further guaranteed within the Bill of Rights.


PROPERTY -- The Right of Private Property: "This is the third absolute right, and consists in the free use, enjoyment and disposal by a man of all his acquisitions, without any control or diminution, save only by the laws of the land."

Mr. Fiedor also says in the article,
     

 "There is, of course, a caveat here: As members of society, we are also required to respect these rights in all others. Therefore, the most important reason we empower governments to make and enforce laws is to insure that everyone respects the rights of others.

Towards this end, the body of our Constitution was carefully crafted by the Founding Fathers to allow the central government only certain enumerated powers. Although it may not seem like it today -- with our hundreds of thousands of pages of imposing laws, rules and regulations -- the powers of the federal government were designed to be few, and the freedoms of citizens were intended to be many.
Because of the lack of vigilance on the part of the American public, this ratio of government powers to personal freedom has recently reversed. We can probably recoup many of our unalienable rights again. But folks, it's going to take some effort from all of us. Bureaucrats are not about to relinquish their control over us without a lot of kicking and screaming."

None of the rights granted in the delaration, nor expounded upon in the Constitution's "Bill of Rights" are contrary to the commands/responsibilities set forth by God. However, they are personal freedoms for which many men and women have died in order that their loved ones and descendants benefit from them.  I loved this statement from missiontoisrael.org 

Demanding rights is a confession of slavery to the one from whom those rights are petitioned. A right is a debt. Every United States citizen who looks to the Constitutional Republic to grant or recognize his rights is acknowledging the government’s sovereignty above Yahweh’s sovereignty:

The emphasis on human rights demands the rejection of Divine Revelation in favor of human legislation. Man thinks he is capable of legislating rights. Human legislation seeks to supplant God and make statutes in areas that only God can regulate. And the rule of iniquity is framed into law. The actual trade that is made in this deal is the exchange of true freedom for human bondage. This bondage is then called freedom…. Man’s fiat law is then made into an instrument of rights. Man is presumed to be sovereign instead of God in a doctrine of rights. Human rights is a false doctrine that seeks to make man the lord of all. The end result is the rule of rights rather than the rule of law.

We are being held hostage by the government.  The very government that should be "by and for the people".
Almost 40% of our household's combined income is going to the government for programs many of which I would not choose to support as an individual. What's wrong with this picture is that the belief in corporately held "universal rights" has upended my ability to give to causes and people to whom I believe I am called to support.  This is not the America our founders envisioned, this is the bondage they fled for freedom's sake.
Hoooo......I feel better now.



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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/15/marine-says-hell-continue-post-tea-party-facebook-page/

To Botox or Not Botox, That Is the Question

My bathroom counter is chock full of chick stuff. I have wrinkle filler (bondo for the skin-spackle it on, even it out and paint over), moisturizer, pore minimizer, exfoliating cleansers, lip plumpers, and a make-up guaranteed to defy my age.  I have tooth whitener, lotion for younger looking skin and a root touch up wand for my hair, which has not been it's natural shade since age 14. I could go on and on....  I spend a small fortune yearly in maintenance.

I went to a med spa a while back and had a skin analysis with their VISIA digital photo machine.  I was quite pleased to learn that I have fewer wrinkles than 85% of women my age (42). YAY ME!! I attribute this in large part to some of the best beauty advice my mother ever gave me.  She said "Always wear sunglasses, even when it's cloudy.  Squinting causes eye wrinkles".  Even though my signs of aging weren't awful, there are a couple of spots I'd like tweaked a bit(i.e. the angry mom furrow between my eyebrows and the parentheses that have their place but not on my face).

I tried talking to my husband, Sparta, about this but he was afraid I'd turn out like Nancy Pelosi. So without telling him I scheduled it and just like most of my haircuts, he didn't notice a difference. I told him about three weeks later so he would know that appearance wise it was not a big deal.

The doctor told me that upkeep would be required in four to six months.  It depends on how long it takes a person's body to metabolize the toxin.  Botox happens to be one of the few things that you can do where a slow metabolism works to your advantage.  The time has come for round two. So, I asked my husband last night if he would get me Botox injections for Mother's Day.  He became a little flustered and told me "You are playing a game you can't win".  While that is true, I still want to play, at least a bit longer.

There is no doubt vanity has it's part in my desire, I want to look my best. I want to look my best not only for me but for Sparta.  His eyes are the only ones I want to find me attractive and if I can maintain a youthful appearance with a little help, what's wrong with that?  I have been attempting it for years with pots of lotions and potions.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that there's a med spa gift certificate in my future.

                               

The idea is to die young as late as possible. ~Ashley Montagu