hands for the soil

In this month's mission focus I am excited to share about my very special friends Pat and Cheryl serving in Haiti. Pat ran a successful, and award-winning, nursery and landscaping company here in the States. He is very gifted at working the soil, and plants seems to thrive under his care. Cheryl is a nurse with such a loving heart, and is the type of lady you want to run and hug every time you see her. When God called them to Haiti, they were not certain exactly for what purpose, but they knew to simply be obedient.

Pat and Cheryl moved to their home in Haiti and started being themselves: Cheryl caring for the needs of the people around them, and Pat started working the land. Everytime I read an email from them or a blog post, I see how much the Lord is using them on their mountain in Haiti. When God calls someone to a new area of ministry, he doesn't change their gifts: He uses the ones He has already given them.

Pat working the ground soon after they arrived in Haiti.

When they first moved to Haiti, Pat was working the ground where black beans has been planted all over near their home. Now, he has his own garden and puts his hands to do what the Lord has naturally gifted him to do: work the soil and make things grow. Just as a note, to get water to the garden, it has to be put in a bucket lower on the mountain and carried by hand up to their garden. It truly is a lot of work! Following is a bit from his latest post:

This "jarden" just keeps growing, both in size and the plants are growing too.  The onions especially get everyone's attention. They can't believe they are filling out.  They think the soil here is not good enough to grow onions.  I always thought you could grow onions in the driveway!  All I've done different is water them. Today I added another row of carrots.  Seems we can eat them faster than we can grow them.  A local farmer showed me the banana leaf trick.  Plant your seeds and the banana leaves serve as a temporary shade structure until they are big enough to mulch.  The sun is so intense here everything needs some protection until it is established.  And a thick layer of mulch helps keep the soil cooler and moist.  The little nursery is ready for the rain to come too!  I got lots of little trees to plant in the erosion control ridges I've dug across the field behind the house.  Trees for food, animal forage, nitrogen fixers, shade, firewood, leaf mulch and eventually a start on reforesting this barren place.  I have my plans for growing things here, and really believe that this is part of what we've been called here to do.  But the bigger part is just doing it and letting people notice that it can be done and it's not really that hard or expensive. We are starting to get  opportunities to teach how others can grow their own produce plus some for sale without investing a lot more than time and energy. 

The "jarden" with banana leaves.

Another view of the garden.

I just love these people dearly. They truly have a heart to follow the Lord and reach the people around them. Pat and Cheryl are not only teaching their people in Haiti about Jesus, but they are teaching them a better, more sustainable way of life.

save the pumps

I have these peep-toe black pumps that my sister gave to me a few years ago. I love them, and wear them with everything....dresses and blue jeans....the problem is the insides are falling apart. I'm too frugal to give up shoes just because the part no one sees is no longer presentable. I had worn them so many times that the fabric had come out, and I was now on the secondary layer. What to do?

I decided I would give them a facelift. I tore the insides out and used them as a template to cut out fabric. I ironed the edges in a quarter inch and sprayed the backside with adhesive. I pressed the new inserts into my shoes. A simple and cheap way to keep shoes looking fresh. So happy with the results.

before: pretty ratty looking

after: with a new life

capiz ring

At our local co-op, I get the opportunity to teach a class my daughter is in. Our topic this week was oceans, and I couldn't pass on a chance to share my shells I had collected at the beach this past summer. When at the beach, I love walking along the shore and picking up all types of shells, some whole, some pieces, but all with a bit of lovely to them. I took many types of shells with me and let the children play with them, talk about them, and pick their favorites. The boys strung shells on jute to make necklaces and the girls made rings. I made my ring out of capiz shells.

Here are the rings for the girls. Each was able to pick her own shells and I hot-glued them onto the ring blank.

a new day dawning

Even though it is not very warm yet, the sun and blue skies make it seem like spring is just around the corner. I always want to clear my gardens a little sooner than I should, so I am trying to avoid the urge this year to start too soon. I did get outside and check my bulbs. My daffodils are starting to shoot up, and much to my amazement, I found a few lovely crocus in bloom. They are an early indicator that spring is here, along with the return of the vultures and the snakes. 

daffodil heads popping up

my surprise crocus

I also keep a gardening scrapbook full of notes on the plants and trees I have, where they came from, when I planted them.....I also have drawings of my gardens so I know where certain plants should pop up each year. It is a work in progress, but it has been so helpful. When I purchase flowers through a catalog, I clip their picture and write-up and paste it in my book. When I buy a potted plant, I put the plant tag in the book. I have kept my seed packets, but I haven't started putting them in yet....that's a job for this year. 

my notes on taking care of my Ficus tree

my original garden layout and sketch

early garden shed ideas

plant tags and plant descriptions

seed packets for saving my seeds this year

clay pot lights

I posted about my garden shed last year, and said that I would share about my clay pot lights that I created for in the shed. We finally ran electric to the garden shed, so now they are working and I thought this would be a good opportunity to show you how it turned out.

My light fixtures working.

These lights were super easy to make and really captured the garden theme. The whole project (all supplies included) was less than $20.00.

Supplies (per unit):
12 inch clay pot
Threaded pipe
2 large flat washers
2 lock nuts
1 complete work light (remove cage)
1 black metal cage
Heavy rope, natural color
1 energy-efficient light bulb

Topside

Inside  

black cage with light bulb

First, I put the large flat washer and the lock nut on one end of the threaded pipe. Next, I put the pipe through the center of my pot and put the other set of washer and nut on the opposite side and tightened all. I then snipped the plug end of my work light and ran the cord through the pipe. Next, I pulled my rope through with the cord. I knotted the rope on the inside to securely hold the pot when in hangs. I placed the black cage on the light socket and inserted my bulb. The rope was run to the top of the shed, through an old pulley and secured to the wall with a hook. A plug was put on the end of the electrical cord and plugged to the outlet in the ceiling.

Old pulley found in our barn.

Hanging from the ceiling. 

Thanks to Jeremy and Blake for running the electric for me so these will work this spring. I'm so excited.

newport aquarium

A group of us from church went to the Newport Aquarium this past Saturday for the faith day. It was such fun and the kids didn't seem to mind the other 10,000 people there.

Tiger fish - I loved the way this fish looked.

jellyfish

the boys watching the shark demonstration

alligator

Miss O and her dad

Miss A and her mommy

The kids had great fun trying to weigh as much as a great white.

Claire and the penguins

half the gang on the way out

little kiddos having fun

more of the kids playing on the penguins

pick your plum

For those who love crafting and cute kids clothes and home decor, there is an awesome website for you to check out. www.pickyourplum.com Their motto is "get it before your neighbor does." (The funny thing is, it was my neighbor who introduced me to this site.)

Each day they have a fabulous deal  - just one item sold per day - and weekends off. To give you a taste, I will show you today's deal. They are mini notebooks, sold in sets of 3. You can decorate them yourselves. Oh, the fun!

Here is the write-up from their site:

Naked Notebooks - Set of 3 for 69% off!

Every mini-sized thing is cuter than a regular-sized thing.  Don't believe us?  Go down the soda aisle and look at the mini six-packs.  OR.  Look at the notebooks featured on this very page!  These notebooks are mini and dreamy and fit easily in your purse.  That's right.  No longer will you have to dig through your bag for 15 minutes trying to find a pen to fill out your checks or make a note about the hair dresser your friend recommended.  So convenient.  Also, let's talk about giving these little lambs as gifts.  What teacher/neighbor/best-hair-colorist-of-all-time wouldn't love this little number?  And.  AND!  Can.  We.  Say.    Give a plain one for your creative child to design or pre-gussy them up with washi tape, modge podge or ribbon.  Are you guys feeling this?  That's what we thought.  Grab a set of 3 for just $3.99!

Pick your notebook (remember, they come in sets of 3):

• 3 - Sticky Set:  Comes with 5 small sticky pads (25 pages per pad), 1 large sticky pad (50 pages), and one fantastic shorty pen $3.99
• 3 - Blank Paper Set:  Notebooks are filled with 80 blank pages and a shorty pen $3.99
• Set of 4 shorty pens:  Pens all have black ink $1.99
• One of Each

Fine Print:  Shipping is just $3.99 to ship one or 14 sets.  Canada shipping is $9.99.  These will ship on or before March 20, 2013.

for mothers of little boys

I read an excellent article this evening about mothers showing respect to their sons. Sometimes as a mom we wonder if we are teaching are sons to be gentlemen, strong in character and sweet in spirit....growing to follow the Lord with their whole heart. How do we raise and train a son in the ways of the Lord and show respect for him at the same time? Boys really are different than girls. They learn differently; they need love differently. Love for a man (and little men) includes respect. And that is why this article spoke to me.

my little prince

Before I comment on the article I would like to share a little about my son. He is such a sweetheart, and loves to be a boy. Stuck between two girls might make some little men feel squelched, but not my Frederick. He loves to play hard, throw balls, read all his books at once, and be heard. He also has a tender spirit and wants to be loved, and cares deeply about how I feel about his behavior. Sometimes I struggle as a mother because I feel like all I do is discipline and I feel somedays there is more correcting than hugging, but when he finally gets what is being taught it is worth all the heartaches of the day. I pray so much for my children, and it seems quite often for my boy. I know when the Lord is talking to him because it plays out in his behavior. And at the end of the day when he is talking to Jesus, he has the most profound prayers: observant of the needs of others, a desire to do good, and so genuine. Those moments are a gift from the Lord as I know that a hard days work in coming to fruition.

Here are Ten Ways for Moms to Respect Their Sons, by Jen Smidt. I suggest reading the rest of her article too as it is not too long and full of good thoughts.


1. SET JESUS AS THE STANDARD
There is no man other than Jesus who demonstrates perfection. You will never go wrong in upholding him as the source, pointing to him as the example, and depending upon him for the answers.

2. PRAY FOR THEM AND OVER THEM
You aren’t in control of their lives, you never will be. What better time than now to put yourself in submission to God’s plan for your sons by releasing them in prayer? Mothers have an awesome responsibility to pray for the intimate details that she knows about her son’s heart.

3. WATCH YOUR TONE
Respect is often given and destroyed in the little things. I know the look in my son’s eye when I speak to him with a harsh or shaming tone—it is the pain of disrespect. Speak graciously, kindly, and firmly to your sons.

4. LET THEM MAKE DECISIONS
Start small with choices like red or blue shirt, and move to increasing responsibility over time management and bigger life choices. Give them opportunities to lead in your home: chores, devotions, and family nights can be planned and executed by sons growing in maturity.

5. SERVE THEM
Love them with food, fun, folding of laundry. Let them see that you are willing to sacrificially serve them. Teach them to be grateful and one day they may actually thank you.

6. TEACH THEM TO SERVE YOU
Respectable men serve others. Servanthood does not come naturally to most of us. As you cheerfully serve your son, make sure you instruct and involve them in active service also. There will come a time when it is no longer sacrificial but sinful for you to be folding your boy’s undies.

7. NO SECRETS
Hidden sin is an insidious trap for men. Cultivate a climate of open confession and generous forgiveness. It is much more powerful for your son to feel like he can freely confess sin than have to hide in fear of your reaction.

8. NAME SIN BIBLICALLY
Do not fall into “Boys will be boys” thinking. Differentiate between childish foolishness and downright rebellion. Instruct the former and correct the latter. Name their sin with accurate descriptions from Scripture so they can repent.

9. NAME CHARACTER BIBLICALLY
Read to them and have them study passages of Scripture that speak to men (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Have them memorize passages of Scripture that describes their identity and riches available to them in Christ (Ephesians 1) so they can rejoice.

10. LET CONSEQUENCES FALL ON THEIR HEADS
Respectable men recognize the painful effects of sin. If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin. Let them feel the pain of their sin coupled with the restorative effects of grace.

....My favorite line from the article: If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin.