My Side Of The Mountain

I Remember

It has been six years since the attack on our soil.  It is a day that I will always remember.  Not just because of what happened, but because I have three sons who serve in our military. 

I will remember every time someone protests this war.

I  will remember the job my sons and thousands of others are doing to defend the rights of those who protest and lack the understanding to realize that it is because of them that they can "protest". 

 I will remember and smile when they hand me a brochure that says this war is all about oil.  

I will remember that it was with blood, sweat, and tears that this country was founded.

I will remember what the founding fathers and others fought for--to escape the tyranny of a King.

To be free...

I will remember Benjamin Franklin's words "they that give up liberty for the sake of security deserve neither." 

They have forgotten.

They have returned to a life of ease, not grasping what is at stake here.  Our very lives, our right to live as we see best, and most importantly, the right to worship the way we always have. 

 In freedom...

They may forget, but I never will... 

 Not just on this day, but I remember every day.

Because to forget, is to loose sight of what our men and women in the military are doing. 

To forget is to no longer honor the lives that were lost on that day.

To forget is saying that you really do not care. 

I care... 

Being Still

At times, when my mind is full of cares, I look upon the glory of His creation.

I am then reminded to "BE" still and just know that HE is.......

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of Yahweh's* mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Yahweh is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Yahweh is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a (wo)man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh. Lamentations 3:21-25

*Yahweh is the proper name of the one true G*d. Strongs #3068

Blessed Be His Holy Name.

Nightingale! Thou Surely Art

I heard a Stock-dove sing or say

His homely tale, this very day;

His voice was buried among trees,

Yet to be come-at by the breeze:

He did not cease; but cooed-and cooed;

And somewhat pensively he wooed;

He sang of love, with quiet blending,

Slow to begin, and never ending;

Of serious Faith, and inward glee;

That was the song,--the song for me!

                                                             William Wordsworth

                                                                               (1770 - 1850)

I love being outdoors!  It is  the place where I find my "voice".

In the woods, where I often take 2 hour walks, I relish the sounds of the birds I often hear but do not see, the tall trees which bring me such comfort and the absoulte stillness of it all.  It is transforming!

Lately, I have begun to allow "life" to replace my walks.  Afterall, how can I take so much time away from my daily responsibilites  just for a walk?  I felt guilty.  Too much to do.  But then today, after my scripture reading, The Most High put Mr. Wordsworth's poem before me from a book l just "happened" to pick up from my table.

I understood what He was saying to me through this poem.  To Honor and glorify Him, I must take care of me.  First.  I have always put my family first.  Afterall, it was my duty.  (Not in a negative sense, mind you, I  love taking care of them)  However, I have come to realize that I cannot properly take care of my family without taking care of  myself.  He put me on a bed of affliction to show me that .  I was working too hard and slowly killing myself.  I have been ill for a long, long, time.  Being ill slowed me down considerably and made my family grow in many ways that would not have happened if He  had not done what He did for us.  He is slowly restoring my health, and for that, I am very thankful.

 Funny, the page number of the poem was 103.  The same chapter of Psalms that I have been meditating on for restoration of health: I understood.   Understood that being out-of-doors is essential to my health.  Maybe I cannot go for 2 hour walks like I would like to on a daily basis, but I will make it a point to be outside daily-- if only for 20 minutes.  I will lie on my trampoline and be quiet.  I will listen to the sounds about me and look at the trees which He uses in my life to strengthen me, and I will thank Him, knowing that my life is important to Him and therefore, I need to take care of me so that I can be about my Creator's business.

Journal Entry

As I sit here at my computer, being very tired, I am thankful for the day I have put in.  It's 2:28am and I really should be asleep, but tomorrow ( well, later on today) I will rest.

Today, however, was a good day.  I made my laundry soap.  Would you believe I still have bars of soap from Y2K?  Remember that?  That was a time.  We all thought our lives would change forever.  I remember the different camps of trusting verses not trusting.   The strife, confusion, and  total disregard of others and how they believed they were being lead, especially  if you were doing the opposite.

I am amazed at how easily complaints are made towards others who do not see or do things as we do.  Do we  allow them the freedom to live their lives as they see fit so that  we may  in turn live our lives free from the same complaint?

I wonder how the love of The Most High can be shown to someone who may act, think,  or do differently when they are looked down upon because of it.  Seems to me, that it has the ingredients of the world mixed in.  We are suppose to be different.  Light. Salt. 

I digress.  I also did my oils, put tomatoes, bannana peppers, italian parsley, lavender and lemon into the dehydrator.  Taught my daughter how to make salsa.  She did an excellent job and the salsa is wonderful!  Put supper on for tomorrow ( well today) and made my cleaners.  I remember 20 years ago when natural and non toxic living was a "fad"-- like homeschooling, for "those strange folks".  How funny, now that it is an accepted reality of day-to-day life.

The boys moved the goat pen for me today.  I need the space for our winter garden.  I watch the bucks.  Eager... it's almost mating season.  I would like to have them wait, atleast until November. That way, the does will kid in spring,  instead of winter, when it's wet and cold.  Next week, I will wean the kids. They are three months old.  It's time.

As I end my entry,  this scripture comes to mind.  Safe and sound, I lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Adonai, keep me secure.  Good night. 

Roses

I never really  liked roses.  I was to pratical for such things.  Flowers were a waste.  Then by his mercy and grace, The Most High put a woman into my life that grew such beautiful roses and she would bring them to me.  For no apparent reason! I did not have the heart to tell her I did not like flowers so I gracefully accepted them. Then an amazing thing happended... I started to like roses.  Love them, in fact. Then the Most High gave me a love for flowers. So much so that I make sure to have a flower garden every year.  I cannot explain what  the Father did to me through those roses except to say that He taught me that it was okay  to enjoy the non practical things of life.  That there was beauty and enjoyment out of  all the He created.  I have grown these roses, in a container no less.  I even make my own rose water from them.  I guess what I have come to understand is that He wants us to  freely enjoy all things that He has given us. For that I am thankful, and nowadays, a lot less practical.