Green, green grass of home

On my Facebook profile is a section that asks what my favourite quote is, I've written
"The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, it's greenest where you water it the most."  I don't remember where I first heard it, probably at church, but I totally believe it.

I was talking to a woman I recently met who had left her hubby and was bringing up her kids on her own as "it just wasn't working anymore."  This breaks my heart.
Having gone through a divorce many years ago and knowing what that feels like I so wanted to encourage her, but as she was a stranger I hesitated....... I shouldn't have.

Not wanting to repeat what I posted here but my favourite quote is so true, especially when it comes to marriage.  If it's "not working" ~ DO SOMETHING to make it work!  Water it! Fertilise it!

My vegies need fertiliser, plenty of poo and compost to make them thrive.
There's no denying that often in our marriages there is plenty of poo isn't there?  There are times when you just want to throw some poo his way (usually verbally) and there are times when life just stinks, but it's what you do with it that makes all the difference.  I could, in my garden, leave the manure and the compost in one big pile to rot and smell (though I don't think the neighbours would appreciate it!) or I could spread it out, dig it in and plant some seeds resulting in harvest...
In my marriage, I can let irritations fester in one little corner of my thoughts, or - I can dig them over, plant some seeds of forgiveness and love and let those ones grow.
It's my choice.

I can look at my spunk through my own magnifying glass eyes and see every one of his faults and closely study them, or I can look through God's eyes and see hubby as a child of the Most High, the apple of His eye, fearfully and wonderfully made!
I can look at him through Shallow Hal's eyes and see who he truly is......

iPotential

Ok - so it's common knowledge among my nearest and dearest that I am a techno spaz, not very computer savvy, or as a close family friend says "she's IT retarded". (Note the absence of photos, graphics or decorations on my blog!)
But - I do have an iPhone and an iPad. Both amazing inventions intended to enhance your life, fantastic applications to download, great features etc.
If you use them........

Yep - my phone has very few apps, neither does my iPad. I make calls and txt with my very $$ phone and I use my Christmas present iPad to blog - and that's about it. Much to the disgust of one very close friend (Tans).

I was pondering this to my hubby in bed the other night - "Babe, do you think our lives are like iPhones? Soooo much potential, if only we would download it."
So many things we have the opportunity to do and be, so many places we could go, so many chances, so many risks to take,
if only we would do them
be that
go there
take them

I'm not talking "Eat, Pray, Love" here, ie leave your hubby, flit around the world and find yourself.
I'm talking about your God given potential, my potential. Am I making the most of every moment He's given me? Am I using all the talents and abilities He's gifted me with for Him, for His Kingdom and His purposes? Or am I like my own iPhone - so much potential yet only being used for the boring basics? All talk and no action (OUCH!)

Might just get off my iPad and go download some Jesus time.......

Sucking eggs

Strange title for a post I know, but it's the name of a library book I picked up on Monday and have been struggling to put down ever since...
"Sucking eggs - what your wartime Granny could teach you about diet, thrift and going green" by Patricia Nicol.

I was under the impression that this would be a bit like the old CWA cookbooks that had great, old fashioned household tips and hints - some that put a bit of a grin on your face, but I was surprised to find that it is actually a bit of an historical account of the life and trials of British housewives during the 2nd World War.
How they had to plan family meals around food rationing, how they were all encouraged to "Dig for Victory" by growing their own vegies and being self sufficient, how they had to clothe themselves and their families with clothing rations and were again encouraged to "Make do and mend" by only buying or making the clothing they would need, sensibly looking after what they had and not senselessly frittering away money on fashion trends. How they had to carefully think about every trip they took as fuel was so desperately needed elsewhere, most times they walked or cycled and only sourced locally made or grown products.

I'm not yet finished reading (I'm up to the chapter on beauty - putting your best face forward, and how to keep your hair looking presentable when water for bathing was to be spared and luxuries such as shampoo were not easily attainable...... Berets, snoods and headscarves suddenly became quite popular!) but this book has got me reflecting:
Why did it take war time for people to be so sensible?
Why did the government have to intervene to encourage the public to buy home grown/made National products so British money wouldn't be spent overseas thus boosting their own economy?
Why is it that today more than ever we have such a need for sensibility but so many excuses against it? For example, it's been said that one square kilometer of solar panels placed in the red centre of our country could apparently power our entire nation, but it won't be done due to the fact that those running the coal powered electricity companies would be rather put out. Another example is that we have no qualms paying for fashion items and designer labels if we don't see the 3rd world sweat shop conditions they are made in.

Now I'm not planning on joining a hippy commune (although I've often lamented not being born Amish......!) nor am I about to join Peter Garret and chant anti-establishment songs, but I am beginning to become quite passionate about our environment, the future of our planet and what we are leaving for our children and grandchildren. I am of the opinion that way back in Genesis we were given a mandate to look after this amazing planet that He created for us. I know that there is a time and a season for everything and that according to 2Peter 3 this world will one day pass away, but until that time I believe we should be responsible guardians and inhabitants of this incredible earth He's placed us on.

I need to get off my soapbox for now I think!
Not a regular post for this little Ruby girl, but this is what is going through my head just now.

Newly named

We have given one of our choooks a name.
My 10 year old has been nagging me to name them since we got them, but I'm not really into that, although we did nickname one "George" as in Curious George because she is always the first to greet us and run to us, the first to tilt her head and see what we are doing. But we have now named the lightest one with the fluffiest bum "Joy". (Apologies to anyone with that as their name, including my aunty). Here is why.

Two days ago hubby informed me we had a sick chook, she was staggering like she'd had a few drinks, gasping and carrying on a bit. By the late afternoon we noticed she was going downhill pretty quickly and decided to take her away from the others to die in peace. We scoured Google for advice and one of the possibilities was that she may have been egg bound and the remedy was to give her a warm bath! She lay there weakly and I pretty much resigned myself to digging a hole... The kids and I gave her a cuddle and prayed that she would get better, popped her in a washing basket with some towels and left her for the night.

I made sure I was up first yesterday as I didn't fancy the kids finding another feathered body in the laundry (Miss 10's Christmas present canary carked it a few weeks ago and she discovered it......) BUT - rejoice! There she was clucking away at me in her basket, standing on both feet much better and most certainly not dead! A warm bath can do wonders can't it?

Praise the Lord for answered prayers - even for chickens!

Now let's just hope there are no more near death experiences for us to name the others.....

Veruca darling

"Daddy I want an oompa loompa and I want one NOW!"

Ever have those Veruca Salt moments? So many things that I want, but I want them right away? And not just material things, not just the goose that lays the golden eggs..
Those things that I feel will make me a "good/better" wife, mum, friend, daughter.
I want to be more organised, more social, more efficient, kinder, softer, blah blah blah....
And I give God this never-ending wish list and stand there mentally stomping my feet just like Veruca singing - "I want the world, I want the WHOLE world"

Now there are things that I CAN do in the natural to attain some of the above - I can be more diligent with my devotionals and actually put into practice what I'm reading! I can spend more quality time in prayer, making sure I keep His presence in my home.. I can follow my "Flylady" routines daily to keep the mess at bay, be consistent with discipline, eat well, excercise, etc etc etc.........!

You and I both know that God isn't going to roll His eyes and sigh "Yes Linda/Veruca darling, you can have everything you want right now". Just so that I shut up and stop whining.
He knows full well what I want, but He also knows exactly what I NEED.
He knows what it will take to build depth of character in me, He knows what it will take for me to grow and nurture quality attributes and He will put in my path the neccessary situations and circumstances to develop them. Will I face it and embrace it? Or will I stomp my feet, pout and say "It's not FAIR!"

Veruca Salt was a demanding little pratt who ended up sliding down the chute where all the bad eggs go - not quite what I've got pictured for my life!
I guess what I'm going to do is this - Trust in the Lord with all my heart, lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him and let Him direct my paths. (Prov 3:5-6)
I might not get my own way at times, but I can be confident that He knows what's best for me. Life might not be fair, but God is good, all the time,

And all the time - God is good.