Creative Creator

For the past week, it had been too hot to walk Maxie during the day.  So, we took her and JJ for a walk in the evening.  At the school field, JJ picked up a few interesting looking pods that looked like small wooden spoons left on the ground.  I looked up and saw more hanging from a large tree, along with many pinkish red bell-shaped flowers. 

  I was in awe of God's creation.  Then, these verses came to mind:

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."--John 1:3

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."

--Colossians 1:16

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

--Romans 11:36

  There's no one like my God.

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Soaking In Beauty

 

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The Gift of Life

Scarlet Runner Beans

Right before school ended last year, for the science unit, Ms. W let each student plant a scarlet runner bean (see how big those beans are?).  Soon, JJ came home with a 5" tall plant in a foam cup.  She was so thrilled to have her very own plant that she watered and watched the plant grow every day.  As the plant grew taller, it started to become floppy.  With my help, JJ transferred it to a terracotta pot with stakes (...well, they were really space filler pieces from an IKEA shelve packaging, disposable chopsticks, garbage bag ties and long rubber bands). 

Sitting on the kitchen windowsill, the bean plant flourished.  It was funny to see the vines tended to cling to the window to kiss the sun.  Then, we spotted the white and yellow bean blossoms, though most just withered after a few days.  Just when we thought nothing else would grow out of this plant, JJ went into the kitchen one afternoon and squealed with delight.  Without fanfare, a slightly curved oblong bean pot had been quietly forming.  By the time JJ picked it, the pod was almost as long as her palm.  Curiously, when JJ opened the pod, she found the bean inside to be creamy white, instead of scarlet, like its mother plant.  We planted the white bean a few weeks ago and found it sprouted this morning (exactly a year after the mother plant was planted)!  Life just keeps on giving.  Isn't it a beautiful thing?

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Mason Jar Happy Flowers

This spring, JJ and I planted wildflower seeds in the front yard.  Not knowing how the flower bed would look like, we watered and weed diligently, even supplemented with plant food periodically.  Since I have "the finger of death" (from the record of numerous dead plants), I did not have high hopes.  Then, one early May  day, we noticed the 1st sign of life.  After that, things just took off on their own.

We had different flowers come and go during the past three months.  Right now, the flower bed is filled with Rudbeckia Hirta (black-eyed Susan).  These vibrant colored flowers make me smile.  If I could hug them like teddy bears, I would.  They are my "happy flowers".  They have been working hard growing toward the sun that there are too many of them crowded in the front yard.  The heavy flower heads bend the stems.  I, then, had my chance to cut a bunch of them and brought them indoors.  My labor with JJ still makes me smile.

 

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Two Weeks of Roses

Between end of the school year and beginning of summer break is the crunch time for families with dancers.  This year, our family had two.

I have been slowly convinced that most ladies, young or matured, enjoy receiving flowers.  And that's how our houses ended up with many of them in just two weeks.

 This hot pink rose was a gift to JJ from Grandma.

 This one was from F's performance company during the Tiny Dancers' show.

 This bouquet came from F's best friend, Mimi.

Surprisingly, I got a red rose, too, for being the co-chair for the flower arrangement team for the performances.

 

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Spring Blossoms

JJ and I love walking in the neighborhood.  We could feel spring (itchy eyes and runny nose), smell spring and see spring everywhere.  God has created spring to be such a beauty.  Just LOVE it!

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Wonders In God's Creation

 JJ and daddy went to the park this morning and came back with this pod.  It was as big as JJ's palm (1/3 of mine)!

We were all wondering what was inside.  JJ tried to break it apart with hands, but the shell was so hard that it would not budge.  She then tried to smash it against the computer table.  While the pod remained undamaged, the table did receive a few scratches.  Ummm, not a good idea.  Finally, I brought out the butter knife to crack it open.

The room was filled with oohs and ahhs as the seeds inside were revealed.  Who would have thought that inside the tough exterior shell were those fragile paper thin seeds?  They were light weight and as if they were "born with wings".   I could just image God's hand sending those seeds into the sky.  The girls blew on them gently and sure enough, they saw the seeds flying into the air.  As we have been studying the creation in Genesis, I could not help but marvel at the creativity of God and be in awe of our Creator.  This was no doubt, His handy work.

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Backyard Surprise--Mini Rose

This is a tiny rose (the size of a nickle) that JJ picked for me from our garden.  I did not even know we had this in our backyard and could not even find a vase small enough to displace it.  So cute.
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Funny Friday

Garden Gift From School Friend

It's been an interesting Friday.  This morning, I managed to attend 2 meetings and finished both within half an hour.  Talk about being productive!  At noon, I was gifted with these beautiful home grown goodies from JJ's classmate (well, more like the friend's grandpa).  Funny thing is that I chatted more with the grandpa than JJ with her classmate.  Very grateful for this garden gift.

All was well until earlier this afternoon.  I realized that I MUST take down some of the pictures/posts I posted earlier in the year.  Life is complicated.  This is what I have to say about it.  I am just a simple person who loves people around me and enjoys sharing through blogging.   This is my online scrap booking. I post pictures of things and people that are dear to me.  When I learned that some pictures I posted really bothered a certain someone, my first reaction was "What about my freedom to blog?"  Then, I remembered those words from 1 Corinthians 8:13:

"Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall."

 and in 13:6-7:

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

My love for others should always come before my rights.  

Sorry to disappoint some of you who might be searching for those pictures or posts on my blog.  But I have decided to take them off the blog.   

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Do the Natural Thing

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Harvests

H's uncle and auntie have a beautiful garden full of good things.  We received from them three LARGE zucchinis and one Japanese pumpkin (really do not know the name of this guy.  Anyone who knows the correct term, please let me know!!)  Fresh and sweet.  They were so delicious!

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Bouquets From The Backyard

The daffodils bouquet for a dear friend.  

The girls put together this mini bouquet for me.  

The holder was this twisted pea pot F found. Brilliant!   

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