Betsy Bluebonnet At Work

Betsy Bluebonnet (Miss Opal) is busily at work again- only this time on our mum plant. The poor thing was stressed and trying to recover itself – Miss Opal took it home, tore it all apart, got rid of the dead mamas, and replanted it in three pots. It was originally a 3 colored plant but who knows what we will have now! We just appreciate that she loves to revitalize dead and dying plants – I usually kill just about everything except veggies – I can handle those. I came home from water aerobics the other day to find a strange potted plant on our patio – yep – Betsy Bluebonnet left a beautiful potted poinsettia there. She is amazing with plants – she even fertilizied our hanging pots ( all 6 which she gave us a while back) and they are responding beautifully.

Hot and humid here (but everywhere else I guess – 111 degrees in Midland,TX)) in the high 90’s and 100’s all week here. We picked up vegetables, fruits, etc. and delivered early in the colonias, as it is better to distribute in the cooler mornings- easier on the food and also the workers. After unloading, I divided up donuts, and helped stack the mounds of tortillas and dried fruit, while the ladies prepared the food boxes. We had so much this last week – we always pray that there is an abundance – enough that everyone gets a fair share. God always provides and then some. This week we had blackberries and leeche – love that little fruit. You know, the little fruit like things you always see at Chinese buffets. The ladies were popping them open and eating them to help cool off. After unloading and working for awhile, we headed home with couple of stops on the way. After we walked in the house we just collapsed – mostly from the heat. Please pray for those who have to work out in the heat everyday – it is difficult.

The workers here in the park have been cleaning up the lake shore – it looks really great. There is now 5 feet of water being feed into the lake – it will be amazing when it is done. There was a whistler duck nest on a limb over the water, so far it is ok – we thought the eggs had hatched earlier, but she is still sitting on the nest. Hope the family does not get flooded out. I suppose the workers are used to the heat – they wear long sleeves and pants, hats, and kerchiefs around their heads. I think I would roast, but they say it keeps them cooler.

This time of year is so much easier on the cook (Me) as the hot weather keeps us from wanting larger meals. I love to cook but do appreciate a break now and then. Sandwiches, fresh veggies, and fruit is just fine for now. If I do cook it is for two days or more to keep from heating up the kitchen. I can remember when we had a huge garden, and canned all day in the hot summer and fall with no air conditioning. We were talking the other day – remember driving a car with the windows open because there was no air conditioning, or sleeping n the front porch in the hot summer nights? Our air conditioner in the bedroom decided to give out this week, so we went a few days until we got a new one. It was not really hot – we had a ceiling fan going to move the air around. I still covered up and snuggled in the blankets – guess that I what you call my security blankets!

Sundy school this morning was based on God’s creaton and how we take care of it. Beautiful photos talen by the presenter and a great discussion on how to preserve the planet. We always have to leave early though in order to get to service on time. Praying that we will go back to our 9 AM church service. Pastor Roberts message this morning reminded us to head God’s calling. Based on Samuel, specifically 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Remembering that Samuel was the last judge in the Old Testament we realize that his reignaws the end of one era and the beginning of another. If you remember, Samuel was the son of Hannah, who could not bear children, so she went to the temple where she prayed and wept. Eli thought she was drunk and chastised her so she told him she was not drunk but just praying and weeping because she could not bear children. Eli told her she would have a child, which she did. She gave the child, Samuel, to the Lord when he was old enough to be weaned, to be raised in the temple for the service of the Lord. Fast forward a few years as Samuel was retiring for the evening and heard a voice call him. He thought it was Eli (who was an old man by now) calling him, only to find out that it was not. The voice called him 2 more times before Eli ralized it was the Lord calling Samuel, so he told Samuel to lie back down and answer if the voice called again. The Lord called a fourth time and then Samuel answered him. God calls those to serve Him  but it it is not about hearing the call but answering and obeying it. God uses people to do His work – if God is calling you to serve in the church or other areas, answer the call. God originally called us to be chaplains at Children’s Haven Internationl to minister to the Winter Texans who volunteered there. Through that calling, we met a lady who wanted to start a food panty. Fred was involved in a food pantry earlier in Arkansas, so he agreed to help her. From that, and a chance meeting with Ida. Caring Hearts Ministry evolved. You never know what path God wants to lead you down. Follow His call – even if it just means working in a soup kitchen, or a donation to a charitable cause, or even helping out at church. You never know where it may lead.