Ramblings of a country woman...

Well, it wasn't really an epiphany in my vegetable garden because there were no veggies in this garden...other than a few random spikes of asparagus I had planted 5 years ago. But, it was to be filled with veggies and had been in the past.

I stood there in the heat looking at this block of dirt, wondering where to begin. I was overwhelmed and I was hot. Me and the heat don't see eye to eye. I'm a cool temperature kind of person. My favourite seasons are fall, winter and spring. And suddenly this week it went from cool spring temps to middle of the summer hot!

And so, I stood there in the heat looking at all the dirt...dirt that needed to be hoed and rowed and seeded and watered and eventually weeded and like I said I was overwhelmed. I started picking rocks and more rocks. I could do this...but then I thought who am I fooling.

Then it came to me...the epiphany...an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking.
There I stood, hot and overwhelmed...that was my event and then it came...

"Tina...you have been trying to vegetable garden for almost 26 years, yes, you have had successful years but if this was your thing you'd have a masterpiece by this time and you don't so let it go. You're not really a vegetable gardener and it's okay, you can't do everything".

And guess what? I felt relieved, it was okay, I could let it go.

Besides, my dad who lives next door is the veggie gardener expert and I'm sure he'll have a bean or two to spare from his garden ;-)

How often in life are we doing things we're really not meant to do. It's not that we're not capable but when we do it, it pulls us into too many directions. We give a little here, a little there, etc. and quite possibly nothing is given the fullest attention it should.

We are all gifted in different ways and God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives - that is what we need to seek.

Things to be thankful for...

190. Good chat with my cousin Anne

191. Video of Jocelyne's baby kicking - the gift of life

192. Morning video call with Lily

193. Good night's sleep

194. Getting some flowerbeds cleaned up with my husband

195. Fresh sheets off the clothesline

196. Love, encouragement, and support from so many

197. Beautiful morning sunshine after the rain

198. Zoom video church with the Village of Hope - so good to see everyone

199. Walk in the woods with my husband

200. Video call with Shawn and Charissa

201. My husband's encouragement

202. Chat with my sister

203. Morning chat with Jocelyne

204. Boaz and Keish running down the hall after me

205. Matt's help

206. Lily's 4th birthday - video call with her

207. Work started on mom and dad's porch

Chilli for lunch.

Kitten photoshoot.

208. Beautiful sunny day

209. Good conversation with a couple about ministry

210. Dad helping in my veggie garden

211. About 50 cedar wax wings in my backyard

212. Another beautiful bouquet from Jocelyne - I receive them every Friday for the month of May - a gift for my birthday

213. Recording a video with my husband - laughter

214. Beautiful plant for Mother's Day from Will and Amy

215. Out for a drive and ice cream

216. Pizza dinner

217. Video call with Shawn and Charissa

218. Our mothers and all they do and give

219. Three-way call with Jocelyne and Charissa

220. Beautiful gift and card from Matt

221. Visit at mom and dad's - video chat with my sister

222. The fresh smell of tulips

223. God's provision through His people

224. Fixing fences with my husband

225. Jocelyne's Mother's Day gift arrived - beautiful box full of products from New Brunswick and a beautiful card

226. Dishes done by my husband

227. More work completed on mom and dad's porch

228. Celebrating 31 years of marriage

229. Beautiful hanging basket from my husband

230. Out for a drive and dinner

231. My husband's wisdom and heart

232. Video call from Shawn and Charissa

233. Chat with Robyn

234. Another beautiful bouquet of flowers from Jocelyne

235. Chat with Jocelyne

236. Beautiful, refreshing rains

237. Great Sunday morning message

238. Beautifully made plant pot from mom

239. Chat with Jocelyne after her appointment, everything is good with her and the baby

240. Call with a mom whose daughter needs help

241. Boaz and Keish - entertaining to watch

242. God's GRACE

243. Peaceful, cool morning doing chores

244. Good conversation with New Life supporters

245. Chat with Jocelyne

246. Matt fixing the lawn mower

247. Beautiful morning - sunshine and bird songs

248. Dayton, Elmo and Zoe on the pasture for the first time

249. Morning chat with Charissa

250. Video chat with Will and Amy

251. The smell of fresh baked bread

252. Chatting with mom and dad sitting outside on the deck

Beautiful flowering trees, the redbud and the weeping crab apple.

Work buddies.

I've been reading the story of Joseph in Genesis, it's quite an amazing story of the God who knows...the God who is sovereign...the God who has a plan and purpose for our lives.

Joseph, a teenager sold into slavery by his very own brothers to a pagan nation - how traumatic and terror-filled that must have been for him. To be ripped away from his family, from the father he loved, from all that he knew. Yet in the midst of it he remembered his God, his circumstances may have changed but his God had not and He was with him.

The LORD was with Joseph and he became a successful man. The LORD caused all that Joseph did to prosper and the household he worked for was blessed on account of Joseph.

What stands out to me is that despite all that had happened to Joseph, the pain of being taken from his family, the fear and uncertainty of being thrust into a pagan nation - Joseph did what he was asked to do - he did his job to the best of his abilities.

Despite his circumstances, the LORD looked on him with kindness, he watched over him. He had a plan and purpose. Even when sent to the dungeon by a false accusation, Joseph was given favour in the sight of the chief jailer and he was given charge over all the prisoners.

Even in the dungeon...even in the unknown

He chose life

He gave his best

He was an example of integrity

He was kind

He prospered

He remembered his God

He didn't give up

He didn't wallow in self-pity

Eventually Joseph is released and goes on to become second in command of Egypt - read the story it's quite amazing, Genesis 37 - 50.

Again what stands out is the fact that Joseph was secure in who he was and what he did. When I read his story I sense a settledness deep inside of him, a confidence and security in WHO he belongs to. Oh yes, there is pain from the past, there is trauma but he chooses to embrace life in the midst of it and in doing that God uses him to secure the linage of the Messiah, Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Joseph's story challenges me, it causes me to evaluate my life, to really consider where the LORD has called me...what path He has placed me on. And when I know that, He calls me to enter in fully, to give with my whole heart, to live selflessly for His glory...for His Kingdom purposes.

Things to be thankful for...

50. Looking out the living room window and seeing mom feeding Daytona and the donkeys some treats

51. Tea and visit with Marion

52. Dinner at mom and dad's

53. My husband's encouragement, perseverance and positivity in getting this house reno finished - he is the driving force and I'm grateful

54. Giving a presentation about our last three years in NB to our seniors group at our church

55. Good encouraging chats with some of the seniors

56. Getting the kitchen tile floor put down with my husband

57. Chats with the girls

58. Will, Amy and the kids down for the weekend - pre-restrictions and social distancing

59. Stories with Lily

60. Crafts with Lily and Amy

61. Pizza night with the kids - Matt and Jill over too

62. Micah smiles and laughs

63. Playing outside with Lily

64. A walk through the woods

65. Chat with Matt

66. Daytona, Elmo and Zoe all laying down enjoying the warm sunshine

67. Coffee with Matt, Jill and her parents

68. Prayer

69. A good day painting

70. Listening to my youngest son and his dad talk - mature conversation

71. Beautiful, peaceful morning doing chores

72. Nice visit with Tanya, Richard and mom to celebrate mom's birthday

73. Flowers from mom Vanderlaan

74. Chat with Charissa

75. Good news

76. New paint brush - nothing like a new paint brush to make your painting more precise

77. Groceries picked up and delivered by my brother

78. Dinner at mom and dad's - funny story told by dad - laughter

79. Video chat with Will and Lily

80. Putting down the hardwood flooring with my husband

81. Refreshing morning walk with my husband

82. Afternoon drive

83. Laying more hardwood - getting near the end

84. Morning bird songs through my bedroom window

85. Dinner at mom and dad's

86. Chat with Charissa

87. Peaceful, still morning doing chores

88. Video call with Will, Amy, Lily and Micah

89. Nice call with Erica

90. Hardwood is finished!

91. Plant from mom

92. Video call with Shawn and Charissa

93. God is my ROCK, my REFUGE and my DELIVERER

94. Lorraine has gone home to be with her LORD - she suffers no more

95. Beautiful spring day

96. Chat with Jocelyne

97. Chat with Matt

98. Good day cleaning - getting rid of the dust from the reno

99. Video call with Will, Amy and the kids

100. Morning bird songs

101. Spring rains

102. Church service on line

103. Mom & dad over for coffee

104. Walk in the woods with my husband

105. Chat with Charissa

106. Chat with Steven and Debra

107. Groceries picked up by my brother

108. Laying more tile flooring with my husband

109. Nice chat with Alice

110. A relaxing bath

111. Chat with Charissa

112. Beautiful spring day

113. God is my source

114. Video call with Charissa and Shawn

115. Tile flooring is finished!

116. Beautiful flower bouquet and card from Jocelyne

117. Video call with Will, Amy and the kids

118. Pal had her kittens

119. Zoom video call with all the kids

120. Afternoon walk with my husband

121. My brother bringing out some bales of hay for me

122. Early morning bird songs

123. Hay delivered today by my hay supplier - nice chat with Jim

124. Chat with Jocelyne after her doctor's appointment - baby and her are doing well

125. Beautiful day for working outside

126. Re-seeding and fertilizing the pasture with my brother

127. Help with rock picking from Sarah

128. Holding the baby kittens

129. Light rain - good for the newly seeded pasture

130. Chat with Jocelyne

131. More rains - great for the pasture

132. Morning chat with Charissa

133. Afternoon sunshine

134. Homemade cheese/garlic bread

135. My husband's heart towards me

136. Good Friday - Jesus' sacrifice - forever grateful

137. Church with mom and dad - communion

138. Working outside with my husband

139. Beautiful cutout from Will and Amy

140. He is RISEN!

141. Zoom video call with my sisters and families

142. Walk with my husband - saw some swans

143. Beautiful, refreshing morning rain

144. Groceries picked up by my personal grocer ;-) my brother, produce manager at the local grocery store.

145. Laughter

146. Three-way call with Jocelyne and Charissa

147. Hanging laundry on the clothesline

148. Yeast and flour from mom - hard to find right now

149. Dusting of snow and morning sunshine

150. Getting the kitchen cupboards painted

151. Video call with Lily

152. Video call with Charissa, Shawn and Cooper ;-)

153. New slippers, thanks mom Vanderlaan

154. Gift from Shawn and Charissa

155. Chats with my sisters

156. The smell of fresh baked bread all throughout the house

157. Ice cream - out for a drive to town with my husband

158. Family

159. Warm sunshine pouring through my office window as I sit working at my desk

160. Chat with Jocelyne

161. Cuddle time with Boaz and Keisha - have to tame them

162. Soft morning rain

163. Father and son working together

164. Mart is the new Executive Director of New Life Women's Home - the next leg of our journey begins

165. Fern from mom, more greenery for the house

166. Mom sewing hospital gowns for the hospital

167. Our Sovereign God in the midst of horrific tragedy

168. Celebrating mom's 75th birthday in the midst of Covid19 - a day full of blessings - zoom calls with siblings, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids - gift of a screened in front porch from my dad