Archives for February 2011

Time to Call in the Experts…

February 9, 2011 by 6 Comments

I have a little secret for you. If you want to keep a plant alive, you might not want to give it to me. That’s right. Not only am I craft-challenged (as I’ve admitted before), I’m plant-challenged as well. Mrs. Greenthumbs I am not.

Since I know my limitations, I knew it was time to call in the experts after we received two beautiful plants during the recent loss of Don’s mother. I posted the pictures above and below on my Facebook page asking for help in identifying and caring for these plants. I needed some expert advice before I managed to snuff the life out of these two beauties.

DSC04360My Facebook friends didn’t let me down. I now know that the flowering plant is a cyclamen and is a bit fussy — which translates into “I’ll do the best I can, but it may not have a chance” :)

The other one is a peace lily and will eventually flower. Friend after friend chimed in and assured me that this one is impossible to kill — a relief to hear but also makes me nervous. What if I am the one person in the universe who can kill a peace lily? :)

Like I said before, though, I’ll do the best I can. All I can do is follow the advice given and leave it in the Lord’s hands :) After all, He may want me to help keep the artificial plant industry alive :)

Do you have anything you need some expert advice on right now? Remember, experts are all around us. They are just folks who have more knowledge and experience with a given topic than we might happen to have.

So if you need help, reach out. You never know who might hold the answer. You could even ask your question here in a comment, and another reader might have just the insight you need. Or who knows — like me, you might even find it on Facebook! :)

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” Proverbs 19:20

*Last chance to enter the “I Love Chocolate” Giveaway! Deadline is noon (CST) Feb. 13.

*It’s not too late to receive the current issue of Life Notes (my quarterly inspirational newsletter). Sign up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: advice, challenge, help, nature

Snowed Under, Anyone?

February 6, 2011 by 10 Comments

Anyone else find yourself snowed under this past week? This was the sight that greeted me when I opened our front door the day after the blizzard of 2011 buried us in its immobilizing winter white. And with temperatures below freezing until yesterday and the promise of more snow on the way, I have a feeling it will be awhile before our bushes and lawn fully see the light of day.

I also have a feeling that some of you might be snowed under. Snowed under by things other than winter’s icy calling card. Burdened by things longer-lasting or even more immobilizing than a foot or two of snow.

Some of you may feel weighed down by a burden of grief. Our family has experienced a measure of that recently. Others may find themselves buried under a pile of work or unpaid bills while some are bearing the weight of others as well as themselves as they struggle to keep up with parenting or caregiving duties. And it might just be a combination of several things causing some of us to feel overwhelmed.

Are you feeling like you may never see the light of day? Be encouraged. Remember that we have One who wants to bear the weight of our burdens for us. We have One who says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

So turn to Him. Tell Him you’re snowed under and ask for His help. Then relax in His arms and be at peace, my friend. Be at peace…

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

*Don’t forget to enter the “I Love Chocolate” Giveaway. Deadline is noon (CST) Feb. 13!

*It’s not too late to receive the current issue of Life Notes (my quarterly inspirational newsletter). Sign up is free and to the right!

*My photo

Filed Under: burden, peace, snow, stress, winter

For Fun: You Might Not Know…

February 2, 2011 by 13 Comments

Hope you’re ready for some of my silliness :) In spite of recent sad times and the massive blizzard that blasted our area on Monday, I’m continuing this week’s spirit of fun with another light-hearted post today. Get ready to giggle :)

A couple of years ago, I shared some random tidbits of info about myself so you could get to know me a little better. I thought this might be a good time to see if I could add 10 new things to that list, so here goes.

If you don’t know me very well, you might not know:

1. I’ve lived in Kansas all my life. No, I don’t own any ruby slippers :)

2. I still have my tonsils. And appendix. And gall bladder. And… Okay, I’ll stop there :)

3. I’ve never had long hair. When you’re as beautiful as I am with short hair, why complicate life? :), Ha!, and LOL.

4. I’ve never colored my hair. Again, why mess with perfection? (Somebody stop me!)

5. I don’t like tomatoes, mushrooms, or foods with cream cheese. Yes, this includes cheesecake. Shocking, I know, but true :)

6. As poor college students during our overnight honeymoon, we saw Gone With the Wind at the movies. Pathetic, but also true. (Don’t worry, we took a real trip a couple of years later.)

7. I had to be rescued during swimming lessons as a kid the first time I jumped into the deep end of the pool. I was only a few feet from the side, but all I could do was bob up and down. I think it was the first time that instructor got wet all summer :)

8. I don’t know how to start our lawnmowers, probably because Don always does the mowing. But then again, he doesn’t seem to know how to start the washer, the dryer, the… You get the picture :)

9. When sitting and relaxing on the couch in the evening, I sometimes rub my feet together like a cricket. What can I say? I get it from my dad :)

And…

10. I celebrate with chocolate. I reward myself with chocolate. I carry some sort of chocolate in my purse at all times. And it just occurred to me that maybe I should start punishing myself with chocolate, too…. Could it be time for an intervention?? :)

What don’t I know about you? Please share!

…a time to weep, and a time to laugh…” Ecclesiastes” 3:4a KJV

*If you enjoyed this type of fun post, you’ll get a kick out of my “Confessions of a Chocoholic” in the current issue of Life Notes (my quarterly inspirational newsletter). Sign up is free and to the right!

**Don’t forget to enter the “I Love Chocolate” Giveaway. Just scroll down to the post below, and you might be in chocolate heaven come Valentine’s Day!

Filed Under: cheer, fun, new thing
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