Project 52: Week 16

 I experimented a little bit with chocolate for a photo challenge on facebook. (after sharing some with my siblings, of course!) The theme was smooth.

 My "obliging" little model who asked if she could have some of the chocolate if she smiled good.

Mesquite trees in the front yard. Yes, I live in Texas.

 Roses by the mailbox.

This one is begging for some words. I just don't know what yet.

Under the mesquite trees

Abandon

A•ban•don
 -verb

1. To leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert

2. To give up; discontinue; withdraw from

3. To give up control of

Last year a friend of mine led a Bible study on the topic of abandon or abandonment. I don't exactly remember what all she said about at the time, but this word has stuck in my head ever since that time. For me, it meant abandoning my will and surrendering it to the Lord who knows all about anything that could come into my life. It means abandoning my dream and realizing that while I thought it was a good dream to have, that may not be God's best for me. He may have me right here for the rest of my life. And that's okay. To abandon means to leave it, and to never look back. Abandonment doesn't really care about its own goals. It cares more for the betterment of others.

Just for clarification, dreams in moderation can be good thing. We would never get anywhere if we didn't dream of something better. But hanging on to a dream is not a good thing.

I can't really fully articulate what exactly I'm trying to say here, but here's how these 3 definitions of abandon apply to me.

1. To completely let go of a dream that I held on to for too long because by holding on to it, it became more important to me than anything else. And that's not good, because nothing should be more important that obeying and honoring the Lord.

2. To discontinue dreaming the dream, because it's like chasing a mist that you never can get a hold of, and is always just beyond your grasp. To acknowledge that it was a hopeless dream at best.

3. To give up the control of my dreams and my life to my Father who knows all. He knows that what I ask for, thinking that's it's good (fish), in reality is a venomous snake that would only hurt me. (Luke 11:11)

While I would love to think that this is a short, quick painless process, I know that dying to anything is not easy, and takes a long time. While I would love to instantly die to this dream of mine and be done with it and be able to respond to every situation in God's grace, I know I'm far, far from perfect in any area. I also know I am stubborn and changing my thinking takes significant resolution on my part. It takes concentrated effort and hard work, which I could - and sometimes do - let slip any moment.

Anyway, what I'm trying to convey here is that while I fail in so many areas, my Jesus doesn't. He loves to carry my burdens, has more than enough strength, is all the wisdom I could ever need and more, and is Himself enough.

He is the best.

Project 52: Week 15

 I found this evening primrose growing through a crack in our retaining wall. I thought it was a good picture of persevering in spite of difficulty.

Our peonies have finally bloomed after several years of just leafing out.

I'm not quite sure what to call this thing. It's not a windchime, because it doesn't chime, but it does look very pretty blowing in the wind!

The little girls love playing in the sand left in the spot the swimming pool was in last year.

Like true, loyal Texans we try to take pictures in the bluebonnets every year. This year, we were sure we were too late to get the best blooms. Besides, it's kinda nerve-wracking trying to stop alongside a busy road where all the bluebonnets have been planted. But my sister knew of this field with bluebonnets behind the place where she works, so we decided to check it out while picking her up from work. (this becomes a necessity when you have a shortage of cars) We got there and there were so many bluebonnets we knew immediately that this was the best spot we'd ever found. They were in the perfect stage for picture taking too - full blooms that hadn't gone to seed yet. There was also a cross on top of the little hill. It fits in nicely with how close it is to Easter. I got some lovely pictures of the sun and the clouds and the cross.

Project 52: Week 14

 Wow, we're up to 14 weeks already! Where does the time go? 

Some frames got "new" pictures this week!

A cake we made for a baby shower on Tuesday

I love this... and I didn't take it. I found it on my camera and I still haven't found out who took it!

I love new leaves. They are so tiny and delicate. These are on a tree that had ugly brown leaves on it all winter that finally blew off in the high winds we had a couple of days ago.

Hopefully these blueberry bushes will fare better than the last ones did. :)

Tea cups can hold things other than tea. These are flowers Lilly picked for Mom.

Project 52: Week 13

All of us kids loved playing with our Fisher Price Main Street as we were growing up, and now the youngest two are enjoying them. They built things to last in those days. :) We still have most of the pieces to it, too!

Trying to make sense out of signs for our yard sale this weekend.

"Where Should I go?"

We took some time for some "pretty pictures" for one of Mom's frames.