Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Polished Rocks

[caption id="attachment_1911" align="alignleft" width="274"]Mixed Media Commission 6x6 Mixed Media
Commission 6x6[/caption]

I'm showing my age when I ask this question, but do your remember the rock polishing kit? I don't know if they still make them, but I had one when I was little. I asked for it for Christmas one year and could hardly wait to turn ordinary rocks into precious jewels. I remember opening it and taking in the pictures on the front of the box. Just as I was about to tear into the box, I heard my mama telling me to wait to open it so we wouldn't lose anything in all the ribbon and wrapping paper. "What?" "Wait?!" I've waited a month for this thing and you want me to wait?!  I probably sat there holding the box with one eye on the progress of the clean up and the other on every rock outside the window that I was going to magically transform into jewels. The minute I got the "go ahead," I  was out the door collecting rocks. Within seconds I was back loaded down with the goods and tearing into the much anticipated box. I went straight for the machine. I didn't need to read directions, I had studied the picture on the top of the box for what seemed like an eternity, and it seemed simple enough. Plug it in, drop in the rock, and voila! Polished rocks, baby!

By this time the family had gathered around to see the magic. I plugged it in, and the sound of the motor was music to my ears. I carefully chose my rock and put it in the polisher. After the longest minute of my life, I turned off the machine to unveil my jewels. As you have probably guessed, or even experienced yourself, there was no jewel, only a rock. It didn't look any different. There wasn't even one little sparkle or hint of a jewel. I turned it back on for another minute, then another minute , then another minute, then I decided it was broken. I wanted some sparkle and shine in seconds and got nothing. I think at that point I lost my audience, and somebody recommended reading the directions. I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. The hum of the motor was no longer music but an irritating noise that wouldn't go away. Mama moved the polisher into the laundry room, plugged it in, and shut the door.

I tell that story because it illustrates my heart so well. As a believer in Jesus I want to be like Him. I'll read a new book or study something fabulous and try to make all these changes in my life and be all these amazing things, and by the end of the day I'm exhausted. The point is that my heart is really like that ordinary rock off the sidewalk. My heart, like the rock, was dirty with sin, but Jesus died on the cross and His blood cleansed my heart white as snow as if I'd never sinned. Now, as I spend time with Him getting to know Him more intimately, He sands those rough spots on my heart to make me more like Him. He makes the changes in me, in my heart from the inside out. He sands and polishes until you see His sweet reflection in me. Some changes are easy and some require heavy duty sanding that really hurts. Either way, it's a process and doesn't happen in "minutes" or even over night.

As difficult as it may be to wait, it's the process that proves to be so sweet. It's in the "process" I am more aware of my sin and my weakness. It's then I can truly learn to rest and trust completely in Him. The more I trust Him, the more I fall in love with Him. The more I fall in love with Him, the more I become like Him.

I must admit, the rock polishing kit was a huge let down on Christmas day. However, after weeks of listening to the rocks go round and round and round.... it was worth the wait! Ordinary rocks were transformed into stunning jewels. In the same way, when you give your heart to Jesus, He polishes it till His reflection beautifully shines through you.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6                      love love love Ruthie

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Baby Moon

[caption id="attachment_1894" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Baby Moon with Mama Milky Way Baby Moon with Mama Milky Way[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1895" align="alignleft" width="300"]Eddie carrying Baby Moon to the truck. Eddie carrying Baby Moon to the truck.[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! Since Mother's Day is sunday, I thought I'd introduce you to Baby Moon and her mama, Milky Way. Baby Moon was born about three weeks ago. She gave us quite the scare when she was born. She couldn't figure out the whole nursing thing. You know me, I was hoping to bring her home to the "Garage Hotel," but my sweet husband kept reminding me that the best home for her was with her cow mama.

[caption id="attachment_1896" align="alignleft" width="200"]Milky Way in the catch pen Milky Way in the catch pen[/caption]

Milky Way was amazingly patient. We would sit in the pasture watching and hoping Baby Moon would figure out what to do. Milky Way would stand so still and nudge her and love her, but she just couldn't get it. We finally had to put Milky Way in a catch pen and teach Baby Moon to eat. A friend of Eddie's helped us that day and he taught me how to milk a cow. That was a first for me. He let the girls stay at his house for a couple of days in close quarters till Baby Moon got the hang of eating on her own. She made lots of new friends while she was there.

[caption id="attachment_1897" align="aligncenter" width="300"]A family of donkeys welcomed us as we entered the gate. A family of donkeys welcomed us as we entered the gate.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1898" align="aligncenter" width="300"]There were all kinds of dogs with lots of encouraging words. There were all kinds of dogs with lots of encouraging words.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1899" align="aligncenter" width="300"]This sweet girl didn't have much to say, but she was so pretty and stood patiently waiting to see what Baby Moon was going to do. This sweet girl didn't have much to say, but she was so pretty and stood patiently waiting to see what Baby Moon was going to do.[/caption]

After saying goodbye to all her new friends, she made a quick trip to the vet's office and then home to our pasture.

[caption id="attachment_1900" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Baby Moon was a tiny little thing when she left the farm. But she loved all her new friends. Baby Moon was a tiny little thing when she left the farm.
[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1901" align="alignleft" width="300"]Lovey gave Luke a big kiss on the cheek. Lovey gave Luke a big kiss on the cheek.[/caption]

Last night we sat on the back of the truck in the middle of the pasture and watched her with her mama. I absolutely love watching all the babies run around playing with each other. They are precious! They bob and weave in between the mamas just mooing away. They are all so curious of us. The babies will get tight up to you and lick your hand and dart off at 100 miles an hour. However, some have figured

[caption id="attachment_1902" align="alignleft" width="300"]Getting a little love Getting a little love[/caption]

out if you give a big fat kiss on the cheek you'll get a little bit of food in return. Others will just lay their whole head in your lap to get a little love and scratching behind the ears.

At the end of the day, the mamas call their babies in and give them a little bit to eat and a bath. It's the sweetest thing to see those mamas love on their babies. Their massive tongues clean every square inch of those little furry bodies, and those big sweet noses snuggle and love all over them. They say their goodbyes to us and head off to bed. The mamas are so fine the way they love and nurture their babies. It's one of my favorite things!

[caption id="attachment_1903" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Milky Way and Baby Moon at bath time. Milky Way and Baby Moon at bath time.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1904" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Mama Holiday lovin on Baby Rain Mama Holiday lovin on Baby Rain[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1905" align="aligncenter" width="200"]Mama SnowCone and her baby Cotton Mama SnowCone and her baby Cotton[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1906" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Mama Ann Estelle and Baby Sunshine Mama Ann Estelle and Baby Sunshine[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1907" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Last one, I promise... I just wanted to show you Baby Rain's new earrings. Last one, I promise... I just wanted to show you Baby Rain's new earrings.[/caption]

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed meeting Baby Moon as much as I enjoyed introducing her to you! Happy Mother's Day from all the girls!                                                                                                                                                             love love love Ruthie

Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Quiet

[caption id="attachment_1887" align="alignleft" width="236"]DSC_1084 "A Rainy Day" Oil on Canvas 16x20[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! This morning I took my baby to get her wisdom teeth taken out. we were sitting in the back waiting to see the doctor, and I was struck by how quiet the office was. I felt like my baby was a little nervous so I made mindless conversation and tried to help make her smile and feel at ease. Unable to stand it, in mid sentence I just looked at her and said "It's  so quiet I feel like I'm in the library." She agreed, and we laughed about it and continued conversation. I really don't know why the quiet bothered me so much. Typically the quiet is one of my favorite places, but not today. Today the quiet made me feel a little nervous. I could feel fear tip toeing around the corner and anxiousness right on my doorstep. The quiet made me feel small and helpless, but my baby needed me to be confident and strong. I put on a good face and did my best not to reveal my true feelings.

The Doctor arrived and sweetly gave me directions to the waiting room. When I stood to leave, I felt my heart rate begin to pick up.  I thought I might lose my breath. I swallowed hard and pushed my emotions from my throat to the pit of my stomach. I found a playful smile and cheerfully told my baby I loved her. I kissed her cheek and walked out into the hall. The only sound I heard was the door closing behind me. I stood in the stillness of the quiet for 3 or 4 seconds then made my way to the waiting room. Would you believe the waiting room was completely empty? The quiet was so quiet it was loud.

Once I sat down, my heart and my mind had a very active conversation about the intimidation of the quiet. My heart seemed to be winning the argument because it was steadily picking up in pace. Then, in the quiet, God sweetly reminded me that He loves my baby even more than I do. My heart rate started to slow down. He reminded me that at HIs command the sun rises and sets. He is God. He is mighty. A few wisdom teeth? He's got that! My emotions? He's got that too!He is my refuge and my strength. My weakness does not surprise Him. My weakness allows Him to be strong. Today, in the quiet, He held me. My fear became rest. Then, in the quiet, the door opened and my baby was fine and ready to go home. I am thankful for the quiet. I love that God was waiting on me there. I am so thankful that He is patient when my fear and my weakness cloud my heart and my mind. I love that with one breath He removes the clouds and reveals His power and sweet peace. He met me in the quiet today.                                    Love love love  Ruthie

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace; Whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in You.

 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Week One

DSC_1078I am so glad you stopped by! Today is May 1, so I decided to begin my 52 week creative DSC_1077challenge. Have you been thinking about what you might want to create? I ran into a sweet friend not to long ago, and she said she didn't consider herself to be creative. However, after reading my blog about creating one thing a week for 52 weeks, she said she looked at the world a little differently. I love that! She said she took a little more time to notice the beauty around her. She did not commit to creating "one thing a week", but she did say she would think about creating one thing a week! I heard a professional photographer speak last week and he said the first step to any project is to conceive it. The second step is to produce it, and the third is to get it out there. So I'm going to let my friend "think" about creating for a couple of weeks, and then I'm going to challenge her to "produce" it.

DSC_1081 For the first week my choice of projects was easy! Today is my baby's birthday, and I love a birthday! I got up early this morning and decorated the kitchen with a banner and balloons. That was my first creative thing today. I've wrapped her gifts with fabulous paper and ribbon. My second creative thing. I'm heading to her work a little later and decorate her desk with balloons and a handmade banner. My third thing. I made strawberry cupcakes with white icing and chocolate sprinkles. My fourth thing. Then, I love this, I put each cupcake into a cup and into a clear treat bag, tied it with a ribbon and placed them in a cupcake tree to take to her work! My fifth thing.  Then I will wrap this little gift I made for her and leave it on her desk. My sixth thing. This is my favorite thing I made. I made a photo copy of a photo I had and cut her out of the picture. I covered a small board with book pages and then glued her photo to the board. Then I just used decorative papers and paints and inks to create her little birthday love note. I'm going to wrap it in cellophane and put a big pink bow on it and surprise her at work. Those are all easy, fun, creative things anyone can do. It takes a little time and a little effort, but it makes a big impact! Handmade is special. It's thoughtful and it's one of a kind.

I hope this inspires you to create a little something this week! Don't just think about it, make it! I love it!                                             Love love love Ruthie