tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69466817400449541302012-01-05T13:57:54.003-08:00...a breath of fresh air in a musty worldSeedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-90628159079414007342009-07-21T14:43:00.000-07:002009-07-21T14:58:35.733-07:00

"Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us. -- Thomas L. HoldcroftHaving just come through the trauma of a fried computer, I couldn't help but think, what if my brain were to crash like my hard drive? Wouldn't it be nice to have a full, recent backup? Well, sure. I can picture the scene:Me in my comfy computer chair, USB plug planted firmly in ear,

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-16764004807006014602009-07-13T13:18:00.001-07:002009-07-13T13:29:16.472-07:00

Anderson Cooper is a stand-out journalist. I admire his tenacity, and his hunger for story. He seeks out truth and doesn't rest until he finds the bottom line. I ran across a feature on his blog today, which describes lessons he learned while volunteering in impoverished West Africa. Midway through the article, this jumped out at me: When confronted with hardship, gratitude is the best response

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-71241893005083068202009-07-04T14:55:00.000-07:002009-07-04T15:56:13.023-07:00

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-74387558999269779232009-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:002009-06-19T16:40:22.543-07:00

My Son John, by Kathi MaciasSheaf House Publishers, 2009ISBN: 978-0-9797485-4-7It's easy to trust God when blessings are pouring in, and life is struggle-free, isn't it? But what happens when a worse case scenario strikes? How would your faith measure up against a terrible tragedy?Author Kathi Macias has woven a story so raw, so candid, it leaves one wondering, How would I fare if one of my

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-38467207263988037062009-05-15T13:48:00.000-07:002009-05-15T14:36:51.236-07:00

The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, 1932I spent part of my morning out back in my garden. It's interesting how people react when I mention that I'm heading outside to the garden. Some automatically translate it to mean a vegetable plot, and ask when I can expect a harvest. Others

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-40596322613344646412009-05-12T15:28:00.000-07:002009-05-12T16:07:28.958-07:00

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. - GoetheI admit, I'm a big fan of Divine Design, HGTV's hit show hosted by designer Candice Olsen. I've seen her transform a cluttered basement into a comfortable escape for a mom in need of relaxation. And her kitchen makeovers--it's incredible what that imaginative woman can do with cramped space and outdated furniture!But

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-1461679859277528882009-05-08T11:59:00.001-07:002009-05-11T21:56:04.487-07:00

"If wishes were horsesThen beggars would ride."This quote has surfaced several times lately, and although it's never attributed to anyone specific, it seems to be something many are dissecting these days.Truth is, we can't live on wishes.Wishes don't put food on the table.They don't change a terminal disease.They don't mend a friendship or launch a new business.Wishes are the dandelions of a lawn

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-2577245983511774792009-04-30T19:47:00.000-07:002009-04-30T20:15:42.562-07:00

“However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts” - John CalvinToday I learned that The Young Reader's Bible hit the CBA Bestseller's list again. First published in 1992, it later underwent a redesign in 1994. In these past 17 years, it has surprised me repeatedly by making its way back to the list.This was one of my favorite

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-35608154833734758102009-04-24T15:50:00.001-07:002009-04-26T09:27:41.651-07:00

A couple of years back, I remember reading a story about a Wisconsin driver whose impatience prompted him to go around a road barrier and make his own rules. A long line of cars backed up behind him did the same thing, blindly following him as if he knew what he was doing.On the other side of the barrier was a newly paved roadway. The report read:As many as 10 vehicles drove around barriers and

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-2598625984486378962009-04-20T07:14:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:52:20.204-07:00

When my children were toddlers, their main goal in life was to travel from point A to point Z fast. So they'd run from room to room, as if time were running out. It was a sweet brand of impatience as curiosity led the way. Like a garden brimming with promise, each day presented new changes. Life was carefree and silly, filled with adventure.Eventually, though, they learned when to accelerate

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-56532120080293448032009-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:36:15.709-07:00

Image via WikipediaI love bumper stickers, don't you? A few months back, I created a Squidoo lens called Bumper Sticker Central , where visitors can leave their bumper sticker sightings.The very act of sticking a bumper message on a car says a lot about a person's character--what they treasure in life, what motivates them, how they view their world. I've sat behind more than a few cars at red

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-57718632135178549032009-04-03T08:45:00.000-07:002009-04-03T11:18:09.959-07:00

Spring has brought days of rain, so when sunshine broke through this week, I ventured out to clean up some of the winter debris. My backyard would horrify a perfectionist, because I let everything go during the cold months. All the plants that bore beautiful blossoms last summer now stand brown and bare.But the birds loved them. They didn't know they were pecking at lowly debris. They swooped in

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-38764872135881486302009-03-25T10:05:00.000-07:002009-03-25T10:38:28.057-07:00

The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard ShawSpring has arrived, and I couldn't be happier. I'm spotting hints of new growth at the base of perennials in my backyard, where I replaced lawn with flowerbeds a couple of years ago. It was a big step, doing away with all that grass, but one I've never regretted.The new version of my backyard requires more

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-29429121136902042552009-03-17T14:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T18:52:03.583-07:00

Picture a classic scene at a busy airport. Travelers being dumped off curbside, hurrying inside with their bags so they could stand in line and wait. I was heading to Florida for a conference, where my publisher had scheduled a booksigning.Where's everybody going? I wondered. I imagined them traveling to reunions, business conferences, or home to visit a sick parent, as I'd done countless

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-50691583950492961952009-03-09T14:07:00.000-07:002009-03-14T19:12:44.330-07:00

..“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph... I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.” - Thomas PaineI was coming out of Joanne's Fabrics, where I buy my polymer clay to make beads for jewelry that will eventually end up in a shop at Etsy. I should have stayed put that day, but I needed a certain shade of brown to complete a

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-22091741391772089422009-03-07T11:56:00.000-08:002009-03-07T12:33:43.091-08:00

We live in interesting times.I overheard a clerk telling a customer that she could hardly drag herself out of bed in the morning. "Not much to get up for except for this crappy job," she muttered. "Stupid place, stupid people. Pay scale's in the toilet, too."A few days later, a young father of two told me he'd given up his dream of flying helicopters. "I was ten hours away from getting my pilot's

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-48112580528063571242009-02-26T08:22:00.001-08:002009-02-26T08:23:55.499-08:00

Several years ago, my pastor challenged us to ask God for an assignment, then watch what happens. It was going to be risky, for sure, because it would upset my carefully laid schedule and might even nudge me into doing something I wouldn't ordinarily volunteer to do.I went home enthusiastic, but I grudgingly asked for an assignment. In my heart, I hoped he wouldn't answer, because my week was

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-38532714283628116252009-02-20T20:23:00.000-08:002009-02-24T09:17:36.709-08:00

In November, 2005 a terrible tragedy occurred in my community. I sat down that evening and the following words poured out. Looking back, it's hard to believe that over three years have passed. Life inevitably moves on past every sad occasion, but sometimes it's good to retrace steps and remind myself that life is precious and can be 0h-so-fleeting. When I catch myself lamenting the little things

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-89674108472155438022009-02-12T12:01:00.000-08:002009-02-12T12:08:52.407-08:00

Image via WikipediaOne of the things I love about children is their innocent assessment of any given situation. Three and a half years ago, when my oldest granddaughter was six, our conversation turned to storms."Grandma, are you scared of thunder?""Nope.""Were you scared of it when you were a little girl?""No, because you can't have thunder without lightning. And I really, really liked a big

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-57606067942986768372009-02-06T14:30:00.000-08:002009-02-06T14:45:34.491-08:00

Have you ever sensed that the road of life has turned a corner? It's a knowing, the way you know when you've witnessed something beautiful, or met someone special who touched your heart, like the shopkeeper in my last post.Sometimes our corners are sad, and catapult us down the road a ways on a grief detour. Sometimes they're introspective, and help us to evaluate our priorities and goals.

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-3574489338479474162009-02-04T15:16:00.000-08:002009-02-04T16:10:40.784-08:00

I met someone new yesterday, at a little bead shop where I stopped to have a look around. I've been designing jewelry lately, combining elements from vintage pieces (circa 1930's) with new beads and charms that fit in well with the overall look I hope to achieve. I hoped to find some unique beads to work into future projects.So I met a woman there at this cute corner shop. She appeared to be in

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-10294591668786065442009-01-29T18:36:00.000-08:002009-01-29T18:37:52.565-08:00

Funny how little grumbles often turn into big gripes. Big gripes turn into major complaints. And major complaints can turn into chronic dissatisfaction.Tuesday found me complaining about my cold garage, where my washer and dryer live. This time of year, when night temps reach into the 20s, it's not the place I want to be. Never mind that I don't have to haul laundry to a stream and scrub it

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-44087634855094364882009-01-21T08:02:00.001-08:002009-01-21T08:24:38.744-08:00

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - PlatoI toured a lighthouse a few summers back, not intentionally, but because the tour guide happened to spot my husband and I during a lull in visitors and coaxed us inside for a look around. We climbed a dizzying number of stairs while he gave us his usual spiel--how supplies for the structure had been transported by ship around the

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-63273252029637660752009-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:002009-01-20T22:29:54.875-08:00

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." -- Washington IrvingI've toured 15th-century castles in Europe, where royal families dined at thirty-foot-long tables surrounded by gilt-edged mirrors and wall murals. I've enjoyed catered conference meals with groups of writers, and shared a plate of peanut-buttered crackers with a contented 97-

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-26820774945855294852009-01-19T11:02:00.000-08:002009-01-19T11:13:06.607-08:00

It's easy to grumble about little inconveniences in life. Life is often difficult and unfair.Then along comes a story like Adam Bender's, a little boy who was born with cancer, and all the petty annoyances and inconveniences dissolve. This video blessed my heart. It's a good reminder of what's really important in life, and how we can rise above anything, with God's help.

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-7347798326008726242009-01-18T17:44:00.000-08:002009-01-18T18:07:20.113-08:00

Today I saw another homeless person, huddled in an old beat-up car with his sleeping dog. It took me back to four years ago, when I exchanged a glance with a weather beaten man traipsing up the highway. Here's a blog entry I made in April 2005 at my Macromoments blog, titled "The Glance."While waiting for the gas station attendant to fill my tank, I pulled out a To Do list to add a note to myself

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-31961979575312153912009-01-17T21:48:00.000-08:002009-01-17T22:21:32.867-08:00

One of my favorite composers is Andrew Bocelli. His music lifts my spirit and brightens any day. One of my favorites is The Prayer. Here's a video in which Bocelli and Celine Dion perform together.New to Squidoo? Make your own lens today!Have you joined Tagfoot yet? Why not?

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-78497588128914315272009-01-15T13:05:00.000-08:002009-01-20T22:24:51.901-08:00

Some things take longer to thaw than others. A stubborn determination...frozen will...an icy heart. But with or without our permisssion, God aims light exactly where he wants it. Like mid-morning sunbeams weaving through the woods, he lifts shadows and awakens his world. He has a gentle way of exposing selfish motives, stirring up passions and gifts, and massaging half-hearted commitments. God's

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946681740044954130.post-75043775896417484132009-01-14T07:54:00.000-08:002009-01-17T22:41:25.799-08:00

Have you heard the good news? In spite of the ongoing barrage of unsettling news in the world today, there's still plenty to celebrate. Unless you enjoy feeling on the bottom rung of every ladder...unless you thrive on woe-am-I's, what if's, and if only's...and unless you live and breathe disastrous news, this blog is for you.This, my first post, is more of an introduction of things to come.I

Seedplanterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393248900245941869noreply@blogger.com2