Flowers, Fruit, and Freaky Grasshoppers!!

The previous residents of our house were blessed with "green thumbs."  I like to try my hand at growing things, but usually my plants and flowers end up in the trash because I forget to water them OR I water them too much! (I'm very thankful that my kids are WAY more resilient than plants!) 

We call these hummingbird flowers

Pomegranate Blooms

Figs!!

a little artsy photo

I'm incredibly grateful for the abundance of color that has burst forth over the past few months. Gator, my oldest crazy, and I get really excited when we see new growth sprouting forth. (I get excited when I see new growth sprouting forth in my kids, too!) It's like a new season in my soul every time a flower blooms, and when that flower withers I get a little bummed out.  HOWEVER...I trust that new growth will burst forth again soon and with that small hope my soul rejoices again.  I'm thankful for the lessons learned from these amazing (albeit small) blessings.

As I look at the beauty our Creator has hand-crafted I can't help but wonder: "What PURPOSE do each of these things serve?"  I mean, there's the obvious answers like "flowers provide pollen for the bees to use to make honey" (and doctors to make money because there are WAY too many of us afflicted with allergies) and "fruit trees give us sustenance," but WHAT is their ULTIMATE PURPOSE?  For us, "the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever."

"baby" grasshopper

I guess for now it is sufficient for us to rest in knowing that, just like these flowers, fruit trees, and freaky grasshoppers, we serve a purpose. We are "blooming" for a specific reason and although our paths may not make sense to us (and they MAY NOT be what we had envisioned for ourselves), ultimately EVERYTHING is meant for the glory of The Father.

Lilly

Black-eyed Susans

 

Inspiration

For a few years now I've had a desire to blog. Once, I even created a blog site, wrote the first post, and then successfully DELETED the entire thing because I didn't think I was ready or capable for the entire adventure.  Recently, I've felt an urging to try this whole adventure again and so here we go...

My goal for this site is to be purposeful with my posts and allow you guys a small glimpse into our paths in life.  There are three AH-MAY-ZING ladies from whom I have gleaned inspiration for the blog (and my daily life), so I've decided to make this first post a tribute to them.

Lynn's the one in the middle. :)

                                             
First there's this fabulous mother of two who is being purposeful and adventurous in the lovely town of Yorkshire located in fantastic England.  Lynn is a kind-hearted, book-loving, photography buff who works alongside her husband teaching and shepherding others.  She is such an encouragement to me, and I am happy that she is a part of my extended family. You can check out her family's paths of purpose by visiting her blog Wherever I Am.

Katie

                                                 
Next, I must credit my FANTABULOUS sister-in-law Katie for her blogging inspiration.  She began her adventures in blogging when my nephew was just a wee one and is using the blog as a sort of scrapbook for the family. (She's even filled up the entire space for one blog and had to start another!!) This chickie is the mom to 3 (almost 4) little blessings, and she ROCKS.MY.SOCKS! Katie exudes sweet and makes everyone want to be a better person. She and my brother-in-law, along with my neices and nephew, are heading to Africa to follow the path that our Father cleared a little over a decade ago.  We hate to see them go, but we can't WAIT to visit and join them in their purposeful living.  You can check out their adventures when you visit A Glimpse of Our Vapor.

Kathryn

                                                   
Last, but certainly not least, is this amazing lady.  Kathryn mothers well and lives purposefully EVERY.DAY. Her heart is very much UNLIKE the Grinch's and, instead of being three sizes too small, is ten sizes bigger than everyone else's.  As I think about the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians there isn't ONE that she lacks! She has perfect fashion sense, perfect hair, and perfect purpose.  She's a real-life Mary Poppins--practically perfect in every way.  I can only DREAM of being like her when I grow up. The Father has blessed Kathryn with three amazing kids that she shepherds well.  Since they are all almost grown she has decided to begin her own blogging experience.  Woodbank Lane is a bit Southern and a lot classy...just like her.  She's got some delicious recipes posted, so check her out when you get a chance.