Green

I can't think of the last time I've seen the fields so green as this year.  The wildflowers are gorgeous, but it's the green that's dazzling.  Verdant. 

Then I walk into the fields up at the ranch--not even the fields, but in the patches of lawn around the house--and see that all that green is mostly fast-growing weeds.  Not even wildflowers!

Over the last year, especially, we've spent a lot of time raking and bagging the oak leaves that have fallen all around the house up at the ranch.  Over the last several years, those leaves have been quietly decomposing, leaving us with some wonderfully rich topsoil where there used to be a gravel driveway.  Now that the leaves have been lifted off and that soil has received some rain and sunlight, we have patches of grass growing!  Which means mowing it.  Unfortunately, what was a lovely, lush lawn last week has become a knee-high jungle this week.  Not easily mowed.

Still, the green is invigorating.  It makes one think of growth, of newness.  This is certainly a growing season.

Happy Spring!

Spring is upon us.  The bluebonnets are blooming. 

          This year the weather is matching the season.  Warm days, cool nights, the fields lush and verdant.

          Spring gives me new energy.  I want to be outside, to get out and do things.  Open the windows and let the breeze blow out old, stale air.  Get rid of clutter—even the old, stale thoughts cluttering my brain.  It’s time for new and renewal. 

          Spring is a season of growth, of possibilities.  A time of change. 

          I’ve been considering the first line of the Serenity Prayer—Lord, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change.  Because I like to make lists, I’ve been mentally listing all the things I cannot change.  Other people.  The weather.  The economy.  Then it hit me one day—one thing I cannot change is God.  God is unchanging.  His love for us, His gifts to us, will not change.

          Spring is a time of growth and hope.  During spring we celebrate the unchanging gift of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Be

January went by so quickly!  It's taken me a couple of weeks to adjust to the fact that it's February and winter is almost over.  I could do with a little more cold weather, but have been really enjoying the rain.

How are you doing with letting go of worry?  I have my good days and bad days with it.  I've found it helps to keep a prayer journal.  I make a weekly list of concerns (using the rationale that it's not worrying if you call it concerns, and address it to God) then go back over them at the end of the week and write down how things turn out.  It's been interesting, keeping up with them that way.  The trick is to not tell God how to do His job.  Sometimes I tell Him how I think things should be, but always add that I know He knows best. 

One of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber, has a book out titled One Perfect Word.  In this book Debbie tells how each year she has one word she uses to help focus her prayer and meditation. 

I would say that last year my word was trust.  This year, it's be.  As in "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).  Or, human being, not human doing.  I've realized that sometimes all I have to do is be.

What's your word?

Happy New Year! Got Resolutions?

I usually don't make resolutions.  However, I have one for this year:

DON'T WORRY!

I learned last year that worry doesn't accomplish anything.  It sucks the joy out of life.  So many times--almost every time--that I allowed worry to overwhelm me, the thing I feared didn't happen.  Or it did, but in a way that I would never have imagined. 

Worry takes a lot of psychic and physical effort.  It causes stress, anger and frustration.  Worry does not change the outcome of any situation.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Jesus asked.  (Matthew 6:27)

The apostle Paul wrote:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer rather than worry.  Prayer accomplishes something.  Worry accomplishes nothing.

As Saint Francis wrote:  "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

May your new year be filled with serenity.

Seasons Greetings

In keeping with the "seasons" theme of my previous post, welcome to the Christmas Season.

As stated before, seasons in Central Texas have little to do with the weather and a lot to do with activities.  The football season is winding down into playoffs, Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Christmas shopping season has arrived.  Thank you to the businesses that waited until Thanksgiving or the day after to put up Christmas decorations.  Especially--thank you to the radio stations that did NOT play Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.

This time of year gets too busy.  Not all of it is productive busyness, but busyness we impose on ourselves, trying to either evoke or create a memory.   My best memories of this time of year are accompanied by music.  I loved the Christmas programs as a child and as a teacher.  It's something I miss from teaching.  I'm happy I still have the opportunity to make music with the Seven Dutchmen.  And my computer is loaded with favorite holiday music. 

We're trying to be ahead of the curve more this year, making plans for gathering with friends and family throughout the next month. 

More than anything, I want to remember this is the season of Advent, when we look to and remember the coming of Christ into our world.  I want to remember to take time for reflection, to worship and to wonder, that God so loved the world, He gave us His Son.

Seasons

It's the day after Labor Day.  Summer is over.

The weather is cooler--just in the 90s instead of the 100s.

Seasons in Central Texas aren't the same as in other parts of the country.  Our seasons have little to do with weather.  Fall, winter, spring and summer are calendar labels.  Texas seasons have more to do with activities and customs.

For now, it's time to put away the white shoes until next Easter.  Football season has arrived, with the first non-district and non-conference games being played.  It's time to gear up for the County Fair.  Oktoberfests are just around the corner.

Some of my favorite past and present fall events:  Back to School.  Marching band.  Going to football games.  The County Fair.  Playing polkas.  My birthday.  Hallowe'en.  Making venison sausage.  Eating venison sausage.  Wearing those cute long-sleeved sweaters once the high temperature drops below 70.

I understand in some parts of the country, fall means bright foliage, the first frost, even snowfall.  Days of bringing in wood for the fireplace, of checking the central heat.  We'll probably run our air conditioner until Thanksgiving.  In fact, I remember years of wearing a sleeveless dress on Thanksgiving!

It's not the weather that makes a season.  It's the changes of time, the traditions, the activities, the holidays.  It's the gatherings, the relationships, the celebrations.  It's welcoming the new and relinquishing the old.

Whether or not the temperatures or the foliage change . . . Welcome, Fall!      

Updates & Changes

I completed my novel, working title, Guardian Angels. Such a relief! I've been working on the book for three years! I told my husband I wanted to mail it off to the publisher, although it was the middle of the night. He suggested I wait until the next day. After a good night's sleep, I realized I had mentioned an important fact in Chapter Two that I never followed up on. Shoot. Rather than jumping right back in and making the changes and re-printing, I decided to let the story gel for a while. Sure enough, more changes have come to mind. I started making notes--I now have five pages of hand-written notes of changes to make, new scenes to add. Just yesterday I realized a significant fact about the heroine's internal conflict, some growth she'd made through the story. If I'd sent the manuscript off that night, the story, though good, wouldn't have truly been complete.

Writing by the seat of the pants is the way I write, but sometimes, it's hard. I'm thankful I haven't had to write to a deadline yet. I'm not sure I could, or that the story would be as complete as I would like it to be.

In the meantime, while I'm letting the story gel, I decided to make updates to my website and this blog. I know I don't give the blog a lot of time and attention.  I decided that by adding some stand-alone pages (which I just found out can be done) that I can post more variety.  I'll have an Opinions page, and one on Meditations.  Hope you enjoy the changes.