Beka's Smooth Path of Life

It began with staining the deck.

We moved into some spray paint.

Little succulents were artistically planted.

Then, we took one weather worn

child-sized bench from a garage sale,

and added one enthusiastic 7 year-old girl

who was excited to have her own project.

We want the kids to feel that sense of accomplishment,

when they are able to tackle a project on their own.

She used sanding blocks initially, then switched to sandpaper.

She applied two coats of teak oil.

The old bench was moved out...

...and the new bench moved in.

Family friend, Pam, provided help in transplanting flowers.

Beka only enjoyed her little corner

for a little while...

...before she thought of one more perfect touch...

a path.

A path entices you to follow it,

to seek the treasure at the end.

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life;

In your presence is fullness of joy,

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 27:11

Teach me your way, O LORD,

and lead me in a smooth path,

because of my enemies.

Psalm 119:35

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,

For I delight in it.

Beka's right,

we ALL

need

a

path.

And It Was Good

Last November,

in the middle of a winter sunbreak,

I pinched off little pieces of my succulents

and tucked them into potting soil.

I thought this looked great just as it was,

 but they were starts for

 creating other arrangements.

They hadn't grown as much as I thought.

But they still had promise,

and beauty.

And, the arrangement that will go on my patio table,

around the umbrella,

was completed.

When the plants fill up a little more,

and spill over the edges,

it will be even better.

I love working with plants. 

It is amazing that they re-create

after their own kind.

Just like God said.

Genesis 1:11

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation:

seed-bearing plants and trees on the land

that bear fruit with seed in it,

according to their various kinds."

And it was so.

And we know how God felt after He created something,

His joy and pleasure  echos in our hearts,

when we create something.

And God saw that it was good.

Spray Paint Gospel Message

I don't wanna work all summer,

all momma's need play time,

so I enlist help from my kids.

It's not just for my relief,

but for their benefit.

I don't want to send helpless people into the world.

I had many items that needed to be spray painted.

Good job for a 14 year old boy, huh?

When I offer him manly jobs,

he's a lot more enthusiastic and reliable.

He followed my spray-painting directions

and finished off several items.

No drips!

I was impressed.

He also painted another umbrella stand

and cleverly put a bead of clear silicone caulk

along the underside

so it won't scratch my deck.

Of course, the only day it is 90 degrees,

is the day I wanted to take a picture of my new outdoor lanterns.

This picture made me decide to paint the wicker furniture, too.

Like many bloggers,

I am broadcasting my growing addiction to spray paint.

Whether for ecological or financial reasons,

pressing that little button to release new life

is amazing.

Ugly things,

that others did or would have discarded,

find new glory,

new purpose,

new admiration.

It is also addicting.

 I read  blogs about the glorious transformations

made by covering ugly objects with aerosol beauty,

and looked at my surroundings with new eyes.

What could I redeem from the dumpster?

In a fallen world,

even spray paint can preach the Gospel.

Romans 4:7

 Blessed are they

whose iniquities are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered.

All who trusted Christ as Savior,

had their sins gloriously covered in His blood.

We are now objects with useful beauty.

Others may look at our transformation,

and desire to be changed, too.

Once we're redeemed,

we just keep touching up those sins

with forgiveness.

Do you have some covering to do in your life?

When you're done with that,

maybe go buy some spray paint.

Remember,

covering ugly

is addicting.

Tackling the Deck

Every summer begins the same way.

We tackle the deck. 

Like a high maintanence woman,

it always needs something.

It has to be touched up,

fixed up

and/or nailed up.

Running the length of my house on the second story,

it is glorious extra square footage

to a home that always seems too small for my

rambunctious family.

This year was the big year.

After power washing,

we put on two coats of  paint stain.

I'm hoping and praying that next year,

we'll be able to just touch up the stain,

instead of repainting the whole thing -

again.

We're like a tag-team when it comes to home projects.

When one is getting tired, the other has a burst of energy.

After I had painted for hours,

Scott came home from work and painted

while I watched the paint dry.

Except for this unusually wet and cold spring months and June,

we spend hours on the deck. 

We eat on the deck.

We sleep on the deck.

We play on the deck.

We read on the deck.

We visit on the deck.

We play games on the deck.

Washington is great for moderate temperatures

and NO BUGS.

Yea, that's right, no bugs.

I still marvel that you can have a picnic without flies.

I still marvel that swarms of mosquitoes

don't hunt us down as the sun sets.

That's why we utilize the deck for months.

But, there are miles to paint,

before we sleep.

******

The best remedy for those who are

 afraid, lonely or unhappy

is to go outside,

 somewhere where they can be quiet,

 alone with the heavens, nature and God.

Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.

Anne Frank