How does your garden grow?

I am going to be honest and right up front with y'all...there is no green in my thumb at ALL! No joke! I have tried growing things and they all end up dead. Get this, even an air plant. Yes that is right, an air plant. Yep! I killed it!

So a few weeks back I am just sitting at the house and I ask myself, "Where are the pretty flowers? Why am I not growing anything?" I turned to Jeffrey and asked him, "How long are we planning on being at this house?" Once I found out a few years I asked him to take me to Lowes. I know he thinks I am crazy but he does take me.

This is what happened...

Amazing right? Only one casualty right now. Of course it had to be my favorite, one of those beautiful begonias. I was so sad. I can safely say that it has been over a month and the rest is going strong. 

Do you want to see what started it? Those ferns replaced a very sad half dead, new growth Phlox flower from last year. Jeffrey asked me if I really wanted to take out the only greenery at the house. Ha ha, funny man. He kept telling me it was a weed.

Bam! I'm killing it! So now it's garden time. Jeffrey does not believe he will see any produce from the garden, but I am banking on getting some summer squash and melons. I hope a few okra, beets and carrots as well!

I am going to say this, I don't know how our parents and grandparents did this in the day. Either I am just way, way out of shape or this is just plain hard! I bet Jeffrey and I took many breaks, well me more than him. I am very happy to say that the garden is looking great! No produce just yet...but just you wait!

They are definitely growing! I even added more flowers and some herbs. I stopped there because it's just too much of a possibility for me to kill. 

So what are you growing this year in your garden?

Let's take a look at Stronger bible study.

I started this study because God kept giving me hints with the word stronger in songs I heard on the radio, in the scripture I was reading, or just pulling me to open this study. I of course felt I was past this study. I smile and laugh at that thought now but at the time I am thinking, "God I KNOW you are stronger than me. I don't need to study this." Well how wrong could I be!?!?

The first week was reading through scripture to learn how BIG God was. He is omni-present. Seems a little scary right? He is always present, wherever you go He is there. Hmmmmm, do I really want Him there? Yes my friend, you do. The one thing that sticks in my mind when I read this is that He will never leave me! Right? If He is every where and he is always present...wherever I go...then He will NEVER leave me. That's HUGE! Stop for a moment and read that again.

We have to start with God, because it's His strength we need for every circumstance we face. We do not need more hours to focus on ourselves. God's strength is always present, in every place, in every situation. When your heart trusts God's truth, you know He is always there, He gives you peace that replaces fears and worries.

God is omniscient - all knowing. His understanding is infinite. He knows the past, present and future. He knows our secrets and He knows our potential. How does that make you feel, knowing He knows all, everything? I feel safe knowing He knows what I have done, my deepest darkest secrets. Things I hide but now since I know His truth, I am not ashamed. I am able to ask God for forgiveness on these things I wanted to hide from Him before.

I am also grateful He sees my potential. How many of you sometimes need that affirmation from a loved one? You want those you love to notice the good you do or praise you for what you do. Or you just want to hear the love they have for you. Hello! Here God is, every day, waiting for you to see how much He loves you. He knows your gifts and talents! He made you! He is omnipotent - meaning He has infinite power. You have heard the scripture, "All things are possible through God." It's true.

Most people turn away from God because they believe there is no way He could love them. They feel unworthy to receive His love and strength. They are undeserving or ashamed. Let me tell you this...we do not receive His love because we have finally become enough, we receive His love because we aren't enough! Read that one again...we receive His love because we aren't enough!! Thank you Lord!

You may be asking yourself, "How does one receive God's strength?" God gives His strength to those who draw Him close. God doesn't give His strength from a distance. If you earnestly seek and receive power in the presence of Jesus, you will be made stronger. We don't just grow closer to God living our lives. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.

My question to you is this, if God is stronger than everything, then why do so many believers still live in tragic weakness? In order to receive His strength you have to be close to Him, like is a very close relationship. You must surrender and accept God's plan...His terms, His methods, and His ways. STOP trying to be your own strength. He is the only one who can make you stronger.

Wow, and all of that in just one week! Are you ready for the next few weeks?

Oh my, how my life has changed!

I must admit I have been tossing what to do with this blog. I feel so much better when I get to writing everything down. It's like a door opens and millions of balloons burst out the door!! What a relief it is too!! My life has taken many turns since I started this blog years and years ago. Well not this blog, but my first blog here.

It was such a hard time in my life: I was going through a divorce, I had lost 3 people I loved dearly, and I was no where near my family since I lived so far away. Things seemed to just all come at once and I felt I was at a breaking point. Fast forward to 2019 and I am home in Kentucky again surrounded by my family. To be honest, I am so glad I came back because I was heading into the biggest struggle I had, and feel, I ever will have.

This struggle continues today. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in February 2015. Since then I have been in the hospital 3 times, 2 of them being just this past year. I had to quit my job at the USPS because I was putting too much stress on my body and getting more sick day by day. I left my job in September of 2017 and soon after I was admitted to the hospital. Once home I could not get off the couch. I wouldn't leave the house due to fear of having accidents.  Then by July of 2018 I was back in the hospital. This hospital stay really changed my life! This hospital stay I literally thought I was going to die.

I am with a great GI doctor and he has been trying so very hard to get me into remission. My UC has other things in mind. The difference now is the fact I was able to get out of the hospital. I give it all to the great and healing God! He has been knocking on my door for years and this time, I finally let him in. AND what a great experience and feelings I am having NOW!!

I am finally able to work and found an amazing job working from the house. This is the BEST job ever and I am just feet away from the bathroom if I am having a bad day. I am able to work 40 hours a week, so working has returned back to normal. Since I have left the hospital I have also been able to poop, like real poop y'all! I have had diarrhea for over a year. I couldn't even fart without messing my clothes. Too much TMI? Sorry!

I have returned to doing things I LOVE! There is no reason to live each day without doing things you enjoy. Mine are crafting, pictures, planning, art things (even thought I am not good), etc. I have learned to cook and enjoy cooking. AND I have found God again! His is so amazing too!

So this blog will be about all those things! Stick around and see what I come up with next :)