Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder

Yes, I know another TREE post- I am building a fence! I just love Fall and I am reminded about these pictures I took trying to capture this tree at the edge of our driveway. It is a Catalpa Tree and a BIG one at that!! When we moved here in the spring it was in FULL BLOOM- beautiful white blossoms. I can remember how they were all over the driveway and carport. What a beautiful site to see when you look out the back door of the house.Then with in a few weeks the blooms were gone- and replace with WORMS!!!! I kid you NOT!!! Nasty little WORMS EVERYWHERE!!!! I remember driving down the road and watching one slide up my windshield a little at a time- until plop there he went a flying worm!!!

Seriously, I was thinking- wow looks can be deceiving?? This beautiful Tree with BIG blooms and just weeks later worms eating all the leaves!! Not to mention the waste from the worms!! I had to warn people when the came to my house- don't park under the tree.....and especially leave you windows down!! Cars would have worms and worse- worm poop all over them. How Gross!!The worms work their way down the tree- eating all the leaves.....so by end of spring- NO LEAVES on the TREE!!! And the leaves might I add are BIG leaves!!! Here T is holding one up- there were bigger ones, he just chose this one to hold. That is a lot of worms- and waste.

I had people coming to knock on my door- "Can I have some worms out of that tree..." So, I hear they are great fishing bait too- seeing how are house is on the way to a Lake.....worm oh excuse me WORD got around about the WORMS!! I threaten every year to put a sign out- FREE WORMS!!!

It has proven to be good entertainment now that we have two boys......and YES, I have picked a many of them up and put them in a jar!! Named those little jokers too!!The cool thing about the tree is- it takes the BEST Halloween pictures, kind of spooky and weird looking. I have taken many pictures of this tree- with a FULL moon behind it.

One man even stopped by and said "WOW that is the biggest Catalpa Tree in South Arkansas!" So I let him take a picture too- B begs to differ, now that we have one we notice others.....there are many others just as big.

But we think our is special. I think it would be a great climbing tree- when it is worm free. It has that crook in it. I haven't given permission for that yet either....

I know Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree- but it does remind me of the story. He was a short little man, and he heard Jesus was coming to town. So to get a better look he climbed a tree. Then Jesus noticed him- saying "Come down from there- I want to come to your house!"

So he hosted Jesus for supper- and all the town folk were so jealous. Seeing how Zacchaeus was a tax collector and had stolen their money. But, as he and Jesus visited he learned how he had done wrong and Jesus forgave him and then Zacchaeus gave back twice as much as he stole from the town people. What a Great God we serve!

What a neat day that he had- spending it with Jesus. Oh to sit at his feet and hear all the stories he has to tell. I love to tell stories- this blog is evident of that. But I love my Lord even more- and Love to read his word and hear great stories he has shared.

Have you read your bible today? Here is a good place to start.....Romans 12

Mollie

He will never LEAVE us!

I love Fall....the leaves changing colors and then they fall on the ground. Just so beautiful! These thoughts crossed my mind the other day while I was watching the boys play in the yard.

I took these pictures as the thoughts were flowing and this one in particular I actually got the moon in.....not bad for a cell phone picture! Just as a Family Tree- all the leaves are different colors and sizes- most the same shape, because that is our heritage. Psalm 127:3 But the world would be boring if all trees stayed the same green shade all year long. Not to mention families, if we were all of the same personalities and attitude life would be boring. There has to be a humorous one or a boring one in the bunch some where.
And just as all are different so are our thoughts and feelings. God makes us each his own in his own image- but what a broad spectrum of people there are in each family. We all have to leave the home and grown our own seeds and then plant them where they land.

And what a bountiful place a Forrest is with all different trees and all different ages of all trees. Proverbs 11:30 So times when we grow up we may look back on our past- and wonder how and why we are the people we are now. If it were not for my parents giving me a good Godly background- I may not even be a christian. They showed me through Godly examples and taught me how to live. Do I live the same way I grew up? Somewhat- but then we have other influences or circumstances that shape us the way we are now.

Then some don't want to grow- they just choose to stay on the ground and like to be trampled on and do not ever see a future. That is living in the PAST. I have made past mistakes, I have been wrong, I have sought God in those times and asked his forgiveness. I then turn from that way- and choose to go a new way. Getting Rid of the old and making room for the new. Just as the Trees in the Fall do.

When you let go of the past- there is a FUTURE! Proverbs 23:18 If you hang on to every little thing you did wrong or every little thing some one else did wrong to you- you are just hurting yourself and you will go no where!

Then your yard will be cluttered with all theses leaves from the past to remind you daily. If you choose to get a RAKE and pick them all up- throw them in a garbage bag and rid them for good. Better yet- BURN THEM UP!!!! Then that is TRUE forgiveness! Forgiving and FORGETTING is hard, but what would Jesus do? Ephesians 4:32

He created us in his image to be like him- Genesis 1:27

If I were to choose not to forgive those who have done me wrong, then I am passing anger, bitterness and resentment on to my offspring. Then I am choosing not to forgive and allowing it to eat me up inside. Have you ever seen a Tree get rotten in the inside and just fall to the ground- what a waste, you can't even use it for firewood it is so rotten!

When you release it to the Lord- he will wipe away ALL sins! Thoughts may come to try to destroy- but it is up to you to take control of those thoughts and feelings and conquer them with scripture and prayer.

He will NEVER LEAVE US.....therefore why should we leave him. Joshua 1:5 When we need him most we cry out to him- but when HE needs us most, where are we?? Not only should we be there for Him daily, but hourly and support the thoughts and feelings he has for us. When we try to lean on our own understanding- we will always FAIL! He wants us ALL- and Needs ALL of us!

When you commit to him, you will not be disappointed. There will be disappointments in your life by man- but never with God. His Will may not be ours, so therefore seek His Will in doing all things.

If you have something you are holding on to and need to ask forgiveness- just sit down and pray to God, ask him then release it to him. Write it down in a note and mail it to the person that it may concern, maybe you don't have the nerve to mail it. But it makes a difference just to get it off your chest.

I try to be a very forgiving person- I do not want to leave this World with heavy burdens and unforgiveness. I try to forgive and forget and find it very hard- but when I seek his will on it, his timing and his word is ALWAYS right on time.

I encourage you this Thanksgiving Holiday season- to walk in Love and forgiveness. We are not promised how many days or hours and this may be the last time you are around your whole family, or a group of friends. Make it count and make good memories!

Mollie

Mama's don't let you babies grow up to be cowboys.....TOO LATE!!!

These are my little cowboys who are growing up too FAST!!!!
My friend Stacy took these pictures along with the others I posted awhile back. She is just wonderful. And so talented- captured the little smirks and glances I wish I could bottle up, and I know I will cherish these pictures for years to come.
C's expressions will crack you up- he is either HOT or COLD!!! You can read him like a book. But, he loves to show his mean face.....grrrrr!!

Their outfits are such a bargain, I have to share! This summer our theme at Bible school was Saddle Ridge Ranch. A friend of mine at church had this set of leather chaps, vest and spurs!!

She said her boys were grown and they enjoyed wearing them and she thought they may fit one of my boys? So, I put them up and was going to purchase another pair (you cannot have JUST ONE around here....two of everything!!!)- come to find our our local western store had the SAME one for 59.99!!! Oh my!!!

My patience paid off- a friend of mine was having a garage sale and gave me a night before pre-view!!! There on the hanger in PERFECT CONDITION was the SAME outfit!!!! FOR A DOLLAR!!!! So not only are these outfits cheap for me they were PRICELESS memories for little boys to dress up and play. The hats and shirts I did buy at the local western store.

I just love T's toothless grin- he has lost 3 teeth this summer and has grown a "foot" he definitely is going to fill his daddy's shoes......FAST!!!

His smile will tell you the story of his life......Little B!!! He is just like his daddy- laid back, calm, cool, collected- smooth & slow!!!! Although, then he opens his mouth and he reminds you of his mama- ask one question- get 100 answers!!!

One day I picked him up from school I asked him "how was your day?" He said "I can't talk- I am just tired of talking- all day we talk at school!!" ha!! I can see the future of report cards and progress reports flashing back to my past...."Mollie needs to realize this is not social time- this is study time....she talks too much!!"

Hard to believe that theses little cowboys were just little babies not to long ago- my how they grow so fast. I have been so blessed to stay at home with them and enjoy seeing them grow!!

T is 48" tall and weighs 58lbs.

C is about 38" tall and weighs 35 lbs.

A BIG "YEE HAW" for all our friends and family out there-

and Wishing you a great Thanksgiving season.

I am so very Thankful for my GOD who has provided me with a wonderful husband and two terrific kids. They keep me busy- but I would not have it any other way!!!

Mollie