A Lady at Last!

Oh, what a difference a day makes! On 11-07-2007, at 9:37 pm, Tristan Layne Allen made her appearance. Weighing 6 lbs. 3 oz. and 18 inches long, she's a tiny little thing. And so pretty...what a joy! I find myself thinking about her all day. I am so blessed to be a part of her life. Like Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother Eunice, I pray God will help me pass down to Tristan a heritage of faith.

Worm composting and me

Leslie said I should write about worm composting...so here goes. I SUCK! I am a terrible worm composter and maybe a terrible person -- you decide.

So my sweet Thomas drove all the way to Grand Prairie to pick up two starter kits -- one for me and one for Lindsey consisting of plastic bin with holes; coconut fiber; 4 oz. of worm castings and 1/2 lbs of red wiggler worms. The plan was for me to get the bins started and Lindsey would take hers back to Austin...I was sort of the foster parent or worm grandmother, if you will.

Thomas set up the bins for me -- at the office. I carried the bins home and put them in our garage apartment, turned the air conditioner to 75 and made my new little borders all nice and cozy. Although I could hardly wait to see the little fellers, I didn't disturb them for a whole day -- wanted them to get settled in, of course. I even waited a couple of days before I started feeding them.

But I was so excited that I saved all the best of our scraps and even added a few morsels of "not scraps" into my "worm food" bowl...waiting, waiting, waiting until just the right moment to start feeding the little ones.

Finally the big day arrived and I popped open the bins to find a few of the little sweeties trying to leave! So I rescued them from the inside top of the bins and gently set them back on their "bedding". Then I made a small hole in the nice clean bedding and added some food scraps to both bins. And then I stirred.

Next day when I checked on the little darlings it was a little smelly -- I'm not gonna lie. And I added a little more food. And I stirred.

The next day the aroma of the cozy environment I had created for the little ones was so rank I had to move it outside and I fed them some more and I stirred it more.

After that I fed them some more and I stirred it some more. Outside.

So now I've had the little monsters and all their little creepy crawly friends for about four weeks and I think I've managed to overfeed and over attend one bin of them to death but one bin lives on. And the creepy crawly friends live on too.

Lessons learned...over feeding is a bad thing; stirring is a bad thing...leave your worms to themselves, bury their food, only feed them once or so a week after they have established good bedding.

Like Thomas did it -- but hey, what does that kid know about worm composting??

My Life as a Dog -- Revisited

We have a dog -- Sierra. She has been part of our family for a long time now. She was a rescue pup and must've had a tough time of it before becoming one of ours. But since then she is an outright member of the family -- unconditionally accepted as one of our own. While it is nice when she contributes to the family, there are no expectations on our part that she will work for acceptance. Anyway, when she does contribute, she only does what is in her nature to do -- nothing extraordinary -- just routine dog things. We love her because she is ours not for what she does for us.

However, after all these years of caring for her, loving her, protecting her, providing for her -- she still doesn't trust us completely. Most likely she was abused as a pup. Somehow this abuse must've involved treats. Because Sierra will not accept treats from us -- in fact, she runs from treats. No matter how much we reassure her, no matter how many times we don't hurt her -- she still won't accept treats from us...she doesn't trust us to love her unconditionally.

Who ever heard of a dog who won't take a treat from her master's hand?

How my life resembles Sierra's. I, too was a rescue pup -- welcomed into the family of believers at an early age. Unlike Sierra, I was always well-loved -- never abused. Even so, I still don't always trust my heavenly Father to love me unconditionally. I still don't always receive blessings without considering what might be asked of me in return. As if there is anything in the world I could do that would make me worthy of God's blessings! I see myself in the following verses:

Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

And I find hope in these:

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

It is my desire to live according to the Spirit -- filled today and tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow in order to be pleasing to God.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Random thoughts about how I spend my time

I like to crochet but I do it for hours and hours -- leaving other things left undone
I like to read but I fall asleep -- often because I've stayed up too late crocheting
I like to cook -- but I hate to clean up and I don't like going to the grocery store either...a local fresh market would be nice
I like to work in the yard/garden -- but its too hot outside and the air in and around our house is filled with cement dust these days
I like to visit with family and friends -- and I don't know why I don't do it more often

Other things I'm doing:
Moms In Touch -- praying for the children, teachers, staff and administrators at Lake Dallas ISD
Weight Watchers -- again...this time I'm gonna "be an after and stay an after" LOL!
Worm composting -- thanks Lindsey and Thomas!
BTCL -- can't think of any better way to spend my Thursday nights other than in the company of Godly women seeking the Lord
Spending time with Jordy -- my last little chick at home
Working with my "boys" -- Andy, Thomas and Alex
Waiting on my first grandchild -- thanks Liz!

Look! What is new has come!

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! 2 Co. 5:16-17

Isn't it wonderful? A new creation -- a "do over". God is good. I am prone to wander yet He is gracious and remembers me even when I set Him aside and seek my own way. And then just when I need it the most the truth is there -- right in His own words "...what is old has passed away -- look, what is new has come!"

I don't have to be the same old me in the same old way -- I am a new creation -- set apart for holy living. I died to sin -- how can I live in it any longer? Living by the Spirit is what I desire for God called me into holiness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the strength to put off all such things as anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy and selfish ambition. I rejoice that I am being being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created me.

Praise Him for what is new has come!

Turning Tides

It has been a while since my last post...over a year! It seems like accomplishing the tasks on my "To Do" list keeps getting in the way of living my life. This blog being the perfect microcosm of my existence...I look up and a year has passed -- what did I do with all those minutes, hours and days? Did I love my family enough? Did I hugs my kids at all? Did I pet my dog? Did I spend time in the company of my Creator? I know I stressed about money and juggled inflows and outflows and I know my credit report looks good and my creditors are satisfied...for the moment.

But what about my relationships?

God is good to me -- tender and merciful when I waste this gift of my life He has given me by falling victim to stress.

It was sweet Jordan who said it best when she reminded me, "Mom, when you are anxious and stressed out it is a sign that you are not trusting God completely." Outta the mouth of babes.

I am going to do better. I am going to spend more time listening than talking; more time reading than watching TV; more time with people I love than alone; more time alone than with people who are toxic.

I am going to eat better and exercise more; I am going to crochet and knit for my family and friends and maybe for me.

I am seeking love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Pray for me.