The Road

Today the conversation paused on the concept of the road we travel on. 
The questions asked were:
Do you walk the middle of the road?
Do you walk hugging the mountain side?
Do you see how close to the edge you can walk without falling down the cliff?
Have you jumped off the road and are seeking to find out how deep the ravine is?
Are you at the bottom of the ravine looking up?
Later in the day more thoughts came to mind.....
Are you at the bottom of the ravine too embarrassed or prideful to look up and get help?
Are you on the edge of the road mocking those who have fallen off or are you pointing to ways to come back to the road with words of encouragement and love?
Have you traveled too close to the edge, fallen off, and now have trouble trusting yourself or your footing?
Do you hold fast to the iron rod, encouraging others to do the same?
Are you banged up and bruised?  Are you happy?
Just a few thoughts....where am I?

The Gray of Dawn

This morning I parked my car away from the rising sun

 as I was waiting for Ben, who was attending Seminary. 

 I love the rising sun, the changing colors, the introduction of light.

  Today though I noticed something different. 

Facing away from the sun the world is just gray. 

 Not the pretty gray I love, but a hazy brown gray.

  As more light is introduced it the atmosphere stays gray, it just becomes clearer.

I have been reading about Jesus Christ and the light that he offers us.

  There is that power that comes from him that gives us our life,

 makes our hearts beat, enables us to function in this world on a physical basis.

  There is his light that we seek,

 to enlarge our understanding,

 heal our hearts and minds,

 and draw us closer to him.

  There is his light that fills the universe,

  governing the stars, planets and seasons.

So on pondering the light, if we turn our back on the light of Jesus Christ

 does it change our perspective to this hazy gray?

 Would it diminish our hope, charity and faith in the good in this world? 

 I already know that watching the sunrise some how renews my spirit.

  It brings me enjoyment to see all the different colors and hues that light can introduce to this world. 

 I know that my trust in the light of Jesus Christ brings me healing, hope,
 and the desire to be charitable. 

 I know that it enlarges my abilities to see the world in a much kinder light.

  My faith in him brings me joy.

Phart In The Heart

Sometimes there are just holes in your heart.
Yesterday I prayed about one that I just could not fix.
Then Mikie came home and sang me a silly song
all about a phart in his heart and filled it.
I love him :)

The Man Who Farms Water

I just finished reading Volume 1 of Rain Water Harvesting for Dry lands and Beyond.  It tells about Zephaniah Phiri Maseko, who lived in Zimbabwe's driest region.  It is very similar to southern Arizona, lots of rocks, dry grass and very few trees.  In 1964 he was fired from his job on the railway for his political views.  The government said he would never work again.  He turned to the only things he had to support his family of eight, an over grazed, eroding piece of land and the Bible.  Over 30 years he developed many rain harvesting systems and now it provides all the water his family needs.  Mr Maseko teaches abundance and generosity.  He does not seek to keep all the water to himself but to use it and return it to the ground where it can be shared with all. He uses the soil as one of his catchment tanks.  He explains, "These wells are those of an unselfish man.  The water comes and goes as it pleases, for you see, in my land it is everywhere."  His efforts have come to the attention of the national organization CARE and they have started teaching his methods to others and importing less water and food supplies.  He started a organization called the Zvishavane Water Resources Project.  He is joyful when he sees his neighbors making changes to better their land, their lives and the lives of those around them.  You might think that his farm is vast but it only 7 acres.
I, like him believe that God created a world in which there is enough.  That we should be fruitful and multiply and be good stewards over the land and animals, not the other way around.  He believes that the earth is a garden of Eden where he states, "Remember, children are our flowers: give them rain and they will grow and bloom."
I love the rain.  Michael and I are looking into catching some of the rain that falls on our roof and reusing it before returning it to the ground.  I can hardly wait for Volume 2 to be returned to the library for further study.

Lessons from the apple trees

When we first moved into this area, we found the Bucklers and became friends.  Kami is amazing.  She had apple trees, flourishing garden and a huge strawberry patch, all growing outside their mobile home in this dry parched soil.  She gave me hope.  I had been killing and then pulling various trees off of our property and nothing seemed to grow for me but weeds and pine trees.  I asked her lots of questions and then Michael and I set out to purchase apple trees.

Her advice was sound.  We planted on the east side of the house.  That way when there is snow on the Superstition Mountains and the wind rushes down it offers enough chill hours.  We pointed the little graft stub on the bottom to the east also and made sure it was above the soil level.  We've watered and tended to them for a few years now.  There were a few lessons along the way though that I have pondered and compared to being a parent.

Apple trees are like children in that they learn and are influenced when they are calm and relaxed.  Apple branches should be pruned in December or January when the tree is most dormant.

Making all their choices for them limits their confidence in making choices on their own. In the beginning this little tree tended to lean towards the house so I staked it and put a small string on it, unfortunately I left it on too long and now the tree leans slightly to the street.

Surrounding them with uplifting music, pictures, conversation, encouragement, and love helps them to reach for more light.  Trim the tree so that the branches are growing up, and that light and air can circulate freely.

Keeping things simple and staying away from do as I say, not as I do keeps their thoughts about what could be a good choice or a bad one from being criss crossed.  Remove any dead branches or branches that cross.

Saying no just because the spirit tells you to, not because you have a justifiable reason can be very uncomfortable.  Prune the tree a little more than you are comfortable with.

Stepping back and looking at the whole person, 

not just as your child, but as a child of God and their surroundings can help you better understand. 

Step back and look at the tree from all angles to find the best shape.

 

I have been parenting for 33 years and pruning apple trees for about 8.  My heart has grown, been broken, repaired, and has grown some more.  I am definitely not the best parent.  I have learned to forgive myself and my children.  I have learned to trust the Holy Ghost and follow his promptings better.  I have learned to love and appreciate my own parents and grandparents more and more.  I still make mistakes, but most of all these experiences and relationships have taught me how to love more and better.  I still have a long way to go. 

Genes, enviroment, or just the will to choose?

At first when I saw this I thought the children were pulling out the lettuce.  After looking closer I realized that I had spilled some of the seed outside of the bucket.  This is a small sample of my experimental garden.  The ground this bucket sets on is hard like rock,  even weeds find it hard to grow here.  The bucket is to keep the rabbits from eating what I want to save for myself. 

I like to watch people, read, and contemplate where I am in the scheme of things.  I've seen pictures of trees growing out of the side of rocky cliffs. I've read about war refuges who use their will  to enable their minds and heart to find peace and comfort.   I've known people who make good choices in bad circumstances ,turn to their Heavenly Father and are strengthened.  My reading lately has brought me to ponder on the instant between when something happens to us and when we decide our response.  Do I do what first pops into my head or stop, look for options and consider consequences before acting.  When I was a teenager, teachers at church taught that we should contemplate situations we might find ourselves in and choose our reaction before hand.  I did find this to be helpful when the  time came to make a choice.  When I'm emotional I don't always take long enough to think about options or their consequences. 

Back to the seeds.  I'm sure some of the seeds spilled continue sleeping.  Then there are the few pictured here that chose to take what little was offered in soil, water and sun shine and grow as much as possible.  They are not as large as the plants in the buckets, but they are just a beautiful.