We have hope.

Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in  you alone. Psalm 33:22

...the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

~~~~~Wild aloe/cacti plant blooming in late May, early June.~~~~~

3rd year of gardening.

This is my 3rd year of gardening, wow, time flies, it seemed just yesterday we moved here, and now this will be my third gardening experience. The first year we only had one little spot for gardening, where we grew tomatoes, and some dill. The second year, I realized that there is an amazing world of seeds out there, so I bought a whole bunch of seeds from Bountiful gardens, which I really liked. We had 2 spots where I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, a lot of different herbs, sunflowers, and other veggies. This being my 3rd year, I couldn't wait for spring, to order new seeds, to get my hands into dirt, to see the miracle of plants grow from tiny seeds. This year I ordered from Rare seeds which I love the catalog, it has a lot of colorful pictures, and all the veggies are heirloom, which are rare, and more natural.  So here is what is growing in my garden. Some onions. Everyone loves onions, they go with everything, in salads, into soups, into casseroles. My dear hubby loves to eat them raw....:)

Some early red beets, which we will use for salads, for Russian red borscht.

We have lots of different types of tomatoes, red, yellow, black, and others.

Beautiful cucumber plants. I love a salad made with cucumbers and onions, and some olive oil, salt and pepper. Yum.

...and zucchini plants.

Have you ever tried a french sorrel?

Also strawberries, cabbage, lettuce, Chinese mustard, and radishes....:)

May storm.

Its storming up a summer storm. Or still a spring storm. Its raining, hailing, windy and gray. Feels like winter. We need all the rain we can get here in CA. But it is scary to watch your garden and all the plants you planted get drowned with hard rain and hit by icy hail. I hope it survives. Only God can protect everything.

I do hope you are having a great spring, almost summer. And I hope all the plants will survive the wild storm. :)

The reason why.

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes something happens that overturns your boat, hold on... there is hope.

My life was pretty easy sailing for a few years, with little waves here and there, that I complained some, of the little things that happen, the little nuisances of life. But when the big tsunami wave came, and covered me wholly, then I felt my way up through the murky waters, trying hard not to drown, trying hard to keep afloat… that's when I really started to understand how smooth and nice my life was before the big wave hit me. I started to realize that everything before was nothing compared to this storm. That’s when I realized that I am being tested by higher powers.

I started to wonder, why this is happening to me, did I do something or say something that I am being punished for? Is it a punishment from God? I keep thinking about it, looking through my life to determine if there is something in it, that does not bring glory to God. I just keep wondering.

Then it comes to me as I cry before God. God loves me so much, he wants to be closer to me, that’s why this is happening, through pain, tears, and hardship our faith is renewed, like a seed that is in the ground we sprout to the sky, lift up our eyes and hands to Him, like petals in the rain. For He is the only one who can help, heal, or hear our cry. After the storm calmed down, I felt stronger, I felt more able to stand, I felt that I could be something for God even though at the moment when I felt the weakest He was the one who carried me,and when I felt most vulnerable, unsure, I relied more on God.

Maybe that was the main reason. A reason to grow more.

Yellow Beauty.

1Th 5:16 Rejoice always,

 pray without ceasing,

 give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

The first sign of spring.

Spring is coming! God cares about you! He knows about all your needs.

27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life ? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing ? Observe how the lilies of the field grow ; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith ! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things ; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow ; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~~ Matthew 6:27-34

Sometimes....

Sometimes life is hard, sad and unpredictable.....
like when a little one dies.....my sisters baby
life can be full of unexpected events, and full of twisted turns, sharp corners, and full of un answered questions....
Sometimes life is full of rocks...

Sometimes life is full of tangles.....twisted thinking, confusing thoughts, jumbled words...

Sometimes life is full of sharp thorns and prickles...

Sometimes life is full of dirty puddles, rain and tears...

Sometimes its numb and dry like wilted flowers... an unopened bud...

Sometimes life is a cold, dark winter...

Sometimes we see life in only black and white....

Sometimes the light inside us is hardly light, but mostly darkness...

But after all the sadness, and all the darkness, and all the hardships, and all the despair, and all the tears...

sometimes there is a sliver of hope that would bud out...

And sometimes the hope will still triumph over sadness, the love will bloom, the spring will arrive after a long, cold winter.

Because through all the sadness the beauty of holiness will flourish.