A Promise of Friendship

I've been thinking alot lately about friendship, loyalty, brotherhood/sisterhood, unity, peace, conflict.... sometimes my head is so full of thoughts I can't keep up with myself!

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord."

What are the real meditations of my heart? Are they acceptable to God?
Sometimes I have alot of 'uglies' inside that dare to spill out my mouth.   Sadly, they will usually spill onto those that I love the most.  Not good.  And sometimes I have a lot of 'uglies' that don't spill out but they brew inside.  The only cure I've found for that is time alone with God.  He alone can cleanse me from the inside out. He alone knows the cries of my heart.

Last Sunday our teacher read some very thought provoking words.  They've been rolling in my mind all week (in this context, written for women).

"You have been hurt by women.  I can see the pain in your eyes...And I've never done this before but...I feel prompted to make you a promise of friendship."

"I promise I will never speak an unkind word to or about you.  I will never be jealous of you.  I will never compete with you.  I will never abandon or betray you.  I will love you.  I will pray for you.  I will do all I can to help you go far and wide in the Kingdom.

I will accept you as you are, always.  I will be loyal to you.  Before our loving God of grace, you have my words and my heart in friendship for this life and forever with Him."

I hear loyalty, commitment, safety, love, peace...and those words move me.  God did not bless me with many physical tears (and He and I have had many meetings about that until He told me I have 'heart tears' that are just as important to Him) but those words will almost always evoke tears.  Those words go deep with me...and very little hurts me more than the opposite of those words. 

In reality we will probably never make such a vow to each other and I'm not sure we could completely keep it if we did; but what if we at least tried?  How would my friends like to know that "I've got their back"?  How would they like to know that I will not talk about them in negative way to anyone else?  How would they like to know that I will not be jealous over them or try to compete with them but instead I will do everything I can to make them successful in God's Kingdom and in life?  How would they like to know that I will not abandon or betray them?  How would they like to know that I love them and will pray for them?  How would they like to know that I will accept them even when they do things differently then I would? (And I'm not referring to accepting sin)   How would they like to know that I will be loyal to them?

By God's grace and power I want to be and have tried to be that kind of friend.  Keep me accountable...if you hear 'uglies' come out of my mouth-- call me to the table on it!  Don't let me get by with it. 

I truly believe that there is some thing so hugely powerful about love, loyalty, and commitment that if we could truly live that way.........there would be an evangelism explosion!  Jesus said, "By this (love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples...by your love for each other." 

So why don't we love like that? 
When I'm hurting, I want to hurt others.  True, sometimes we hurt others simply because we are hurting and it is SO important that we address our hurts with God. 

 ....but sometimes it is simply because we are ME centered creatures. I want what I want, I want my way, I want things done my way, I, I, I.  What does Jesus say?  In James 4 we read "What is causing quarrels and fights among you?  Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?  You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them."
When I am perfectly honest with God, most of the time that I don't love and let the 'uglies' spill out it is because I have evil (self centered) desires warring within me.  I want to kill with my mouth and scheme how to get what I want.  And *gasp* sometimes it is because I am jealous (did I just say that?!) of others!  Do I ever wage war?  Really?   And sometimes I have the 'uglies' because *cringe* I don't esteem you better than myself.  Boy, that's embarrassing!

I got my work cut out for me or should I say "God's got His hands full with me"?  I need His grace every day, every  hour of every day.  I need Him to show me how to love His way, how to esteem other's ways better than mine, how to show the world I am His Disciple by my love for my friends.  You know, sometimes it's easier to love those in the world than it is to love those in the church or even in our own families.

Is this kind of love possible or are my hopes, dreams, and prayers not reality?
I would love to hear your feedback on this. 

Presenting the Graduate of 2012

Amazing.... my third child is preparing for Graduation from high school!  Preparation for graduation takes me down memory lane as I work on his dvd, scrapbook, etc.....from new born through grade school.  It's incredible how much happens in 18 years.  I am exited to present you with Derek Landon Weaver, the 2012 graduate!!!   Derek worked hard to complete his schooling and I am proud of him for sticking it out to completion.

God bless you, Derek, as you finalize your high school years and step into the future God has planned for you!  We are confident God has big plans for you and will lead you one step at a time. 

Thank you for the joy you have been to our family!

We love you and will always be here for you.

Looking forward to the future with you...... Love from Dad and Mom

It's Tomato Season in Florida

From field to shelf......
The commercial pickers  are done and the fields have been opened up for the locals to come in and pick.  Saturday JR was gone all day and Dustin was working so KaShondra, Derek, Erica and I went to pick.  Tomatoes are $1.00 for a 5-gallon bucket all-you-can-pick.  I cannot grow them for that!

The tomato plants weren't as tall this year nor the tomatoes as large 

but they were beautiful and plentiful!

There were so many they were rotting on the vines.  

They were also very easy to pick.  Each row is covered with black plastic before they plant 

and poles with strings are strung through the rows to guide the plants as they grow.

That makes for some good picking!

Every couple rows there is a drive way so you can drive your vehicle right close to where 

you are picking at.  We were glad Kyle let us use his truck because we picked 14 buckets full!

Once home from the fields we set them in air conditioned conditions until Monday

when the processing began....

First we washed and rinsed all the chemicals and sprays off of them.

Then we sliced them and cooked them just a bit...

...before running them through the Victorio Strainer

and out comes fresh tomato juice!

Into the jars

and then to the canner.  I like to tuck a couple rags around the middle one

to keep the jars from jarring each other too much.

After rapidly boiling them for twenty minutes they are ready to come out.

Here is a fresh batch of salsa being made.  

This family's philosophy is "the hotter the better" (with the exception of myself)!

So we add extra hot peppers and if not hot enough we top it off with red pepper.

What a pleasant feeling to hear the jars "ting" as they seal up!

What a blessing to have our stock for another year plus being able to bless

friends and neighbors with fresh tomatoes.

Making Memories!

Easter Sunday.......
began with an early sunrise service.  It seemed so early to get up and go to church but it was worth every effort it took!  As our church gathered on the basketball court most of us were huddled in coats and blankets...it was cchhiillly!  But our hearts were warm as we were served hot coffee as we listened to people sharing testimonies, special singing, sharing by the children and a message by Walter Beachy.  The morning was topped off by a brunch of breakfast casseroles, fresh fruits, pastries, orange juice, and more coffee.  


We were home soon after 10:00, regrouped, and then were on our way to spend some time on the water kayaking.  I know these years of having the family all home are probably numbered so we enjoyed it to the fullest!  We wound our way back through some passageways through the mangroves.  When entering them we were not even sure they went anywhere so exploring we went.  In some places, it was too narrow to paddle so we had to use the branches to push us on through.  We were so glad the boys went first and broke down all the spider webs for us ladies!  :)

Join us as we explore the mangroves...

watch your head and keep an eye out for creepy crawlies!

We even spotted a bald eagle!

A deserted island we explored.

Ah, the bliss of spending a day together as a family!

Is it OK to take Children to Funerals?

Recently a lady from our church passed away.  Even though many of us knew she was ill, none of us realized how ill she really was, so her death surprised many of us.  She had been attending our church for about two years and fell in love with the people.  She would often tell me how loved she felt and usually would get tears in her eyes.  I suppose in today's society she would have been considered a "nobody" but thank God, in His eyes, no one is a "nobody".  She often commented about our youth group and loved and admired them far more than they realized.  She would observe them at church picnics, fellowship meals, and other church gatherings and would comment about them.  One thing she especially noticed was their kindness and love for children.  They had no idea someone was watching them as they held little children and played with them...but she was watching.  When she was in the hospital one time, some of the youth girls went in to visit her and took her some flowers....having no idea what that meant to her.  She had no money to speak of but didn't make demands on anyone.  Anything she received she treasured as a gift.


As I was sitting on the front bench during her funeral I observed the families with young children and the youth coming through, and I wondered "Is it okay for parents to take their children to funerals?", because sometimes I get the feeling from some people that it is a bad thing and may traumatize children. Or some adults won't attend funerals because it makes them feel weird.  


As a pastor's wife  I had to overcome my 'feelings' about funerals as I observed and interacted with families grieving over their family members. The person that passed away is very precious to someone and people's support and attendance at funerals means so much to those still alive.  In today's world people don't have time to come to funerals anymore....we're too busy.  


I was so blessed as I sat at Linda's funeral and watched the children and youth.  

This little girl looked and looked into the casket, it was so precious!

And times like this are such perfect opportunities for parents to explain

to their children that death is not a scary thing.

Linda often told me about this youth guy who volunteers at the hospital 

and would stop in to visit her whenever he could.

That did more for her than any medications 

and him visiting with the grieving mother 

meant more than words could say.

Some of the youth girls sang the final song at the funeral

"In Christ Alone"

It was beautiful and if Linda would have been here

I am confident she would have cried through the whole song.

Six of the youth guys and two nephews were pallbearers.

Again, she would have cried if she would have known they 

would do this for her.

I was so blessed to see all the friends that came out to Linda's funeral 

and even went to the cemetery.

Below is a family that went to visit Linda many times, 

looked after some of her needs, and sang for her.

She loved these kids and this is the first time I've seen 

young kids help with the burial. 

These young boys suddenly seemed like young men.

When the parents told these young men that Linda had passed on,

they didn't seem surprised and immediately said,

"She's in her real home now."

...Is it okay to take children to funerals?

Death is a reality and I think it is a good opportunity

to help them understand death in a healthy way.

In the eyes of society, Linda may have been considered a "nobody"

but in God's eyes, she was SOMEBODY!!

And we are all SOMEBODY to God,

each one of us is SO SPECIAL to Him,

and He loves us!

Nothing can separate us from 

His LOVE...

even while we were still sinners,

He died for us!

A Visit From Family

We have enjoyed having my brother 

and most of his family

 here visiting.

We rented kayaks one day and loved floating 

through the mangroves.

The water was the depth I am comfortable with.....

not deep....and no alligators!  

Some of the group did see a manatee and a sting ray.

At one spot there were thousands of little crabs on the shore.

They looked like spiders scurrying over the ground.

Another day they rented a boat and the men 

enjoyed a day of fishing on the bay while

the women traveled to Tampa 

and "shopped til they dropped" at Ikea.

Dustin, Derek, KaShondra, and Kyle 

were all able to get a day off from work

which made everything extra special!

Below is a 5-pd. catfish that Kyle caught....non-edible.

They were not fished out so after dinner 

we all went to the pier and Erica and I got to 

enjoy doing a little fishing, too.  

And yes, I caught two big ones that got away!

Really, I did, and I have eye-witnesses! :)

While some fished, some of the others biked over the bridge, and we 

finished the evening off at Yogurtology.

Last night we enjoyed a delicious chicken/hamburger/fish dinner at Chris and Joyce's.  

And of course, we all were entertained by our nephews, 

Judah and Isaiah! 

And this evening was topped of at Orange Leaf...

this frozen yogurt thing seems to be becoming a habit! :)

Many more memories of late nights, lizards, 

sunburns, B&W salve, 

(which, by the way, really does wonders to sunburns!) 

diet foods, etc.......

Vacations always end too soon!