Monday, May 31, 2010

A debt we can't repay......



 All across this land, there are hundreds of thousands of people who owe a debt they can not repay. Who would be those folks? It would be each of us who live in freedom and (at least) relative safety in the United States of America. Today, we remember all those brave men and women thru the years who gave all they had even including their lives to protect us and our country. Yeshua said "No greater love is this, that a man would give up his life for a friend." And over the years, there have been thousands and thousands of these brave service men and women who fought for us. They loved their country enough to write a blank check saying they'd give their all to protect this land. And they paid that check with their lives.

Three of our foster boys were in the military. I know the sacrifices they and their families make. I know what it's like to get phone calls in the middle of the night from a child who is half way around the globe from home and suddenly is so lonely, sick, or frightened they can't help themselves and call home knowing they'll be waking Mom and Dad up...but doing it anyway because they just HAD to hear those voices and comforting words. I know how it feels to just KNOW your child is in danger, and there's nothing you can do but pray for them and wait for that phone call that tells you they're OK. The panic when you realize a birthday or special holiday is only 2 weeks away and you haven't mailed the package overseas to your child. The pain of a hearing a child call and tell you how alone he feels so far from home or how he's struggling with doing those things he knows are right when he's surrounded by the wrong things to do.....and only being able to use words to comfort and support them. I can only imagine the loneliness of the wives who now have to do everything themselves for 6months or more...with no relief. (although that would be much like football season for me)or the pain of the children that will never know what a great Mom or Dad they had......

And I know there's NO way I can repay the debt I owe these families, men and women who have given up so much to protect my family and I. To protect this country even to the point of giving their lives for us. So I take this time to honor them, to thank them for their sacrifices and courage. And to ask Papa to bless the families left behind...Thank you Military people. You are a good portion of what makes this country great!!!And I'm proud of the example you've set for my still young son. You've taught him patriotism with your actions far better than I can ever do...I owe you a debt I can never repay. Thank you for your courage, your selflessness, and your love of your fellow man. May YHVH  bless your families. Shalom.

Monday, May 17, 2010

An award-how cool!


One of my homeschool friends gave me this award. Isn't that cool?! I love the flower on this award....I love orange flowers. They're unusual and always beautiful. Doesn't Papa do great work?! LOL!

Well, I suppose this means I should write something cheerful and sunny, eh? This past week has been kinda tough...although not really in a bad way. I put up 4 qts of green beans, (gave one to Rabbi for first fruits), 3 gallons of spinach, made up three trays of zucchini pizzas, found a new recipe and made scalloped zucchini, a huge batch of yellow squash sauteed with onions, garlic and butter, and still have 10 zucchini sitting on my counter waiting for me to put them up. We now need to repick green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, dill, parsley, onions and broccoli and cucumbers. Whew! So while it's been really tough, it's in a good way. This is our sixth year to plant, so we expected a large crop.....just didn't think it would all come ready at the same time! LOL! For those wondering what the sixth year has to do with it, let me explain. In Torah, it tells us that just as we are to have our weekly Shabbot, and our harvest Sabboths (at Pesach or Passover, Shavuot or Pentecost and Sukkot or Tabernacles) and our Jubliee years (every 50th year), the land is to have a Shabbot every 7th year. So you plant on the sixth year, do NOT plant on the 7th year and let the land rest, then plant again on the 8th year. And YHWH promised the land would produce enough on the sixth year to last until the harvest on the 8th year. So we expected a large crop of  veggies this year,  but whew!!!! I even have lettuce coming up from last year!!!! And our blackberries we planted in March are fruiting!!!!! Isn't Papa wonderful!?! Just as His Love Letter to us says, we're having a HUGE crop and if I can just figure out how to put everything up, we'll have veggies for the next year easily! I'm just blown away by His blessings to us. 
What was that? Where in Torah does it say that? Well, silly me. I'm sorry. You can find this commandment in Leviticus 25:1-7. Now I know many folks will say they are under grace and not law....that the "Old Testament" doesn't apply to them. But I would respectfully ask those who think this way to reread the Book of Leviticus. You'll find several places in there where it says "this is to be for all generations". I believe we're one of those "all generations." Also, while I agree that our sins are covered by the Grace of Yah, I don't know that I understand what you are using to do away with the "Old Testament". Yeshua said He didn't come to do away with the Law (poor translation, really said Torah which means instruction) but to bring it to fruition. He was a Jewish Rabbi.....don't you think it would be a really bad example if He didn't follow Torah?! Well, those are just my thoughts. Please feel free to respectfully explain your thoughts if you so desire. 

Now, if I understand this award, I need to pass it on to some of you! How cool is that?!?! So here goes, I joyfully pass this award on to:
1.Conservative Outrage-
Pops does a great job on his blog and is such a sweetie!
2.ahavah-Emunah
Ahavah has another blog that will lift your spirits and often make you giggle! 
3.hadassahthetraveler
Hasassah is such an inspiration! How this woman does all she does is amazing!!!!
4.ohboomoments
Nanc is a hoot and a half! If you don't giggle at her site, you need to check your giggler! She's a joy!!!!
5.Skippy
This friend of mine is kinda new at blogging, but is doing a great job. I'm proud of him as he searches his way to fulfilling YHWH's plan for his life.
6. Is It Only For Jews?
This is another friend who's a bit new to blogging, but is doing a great job! I'm impressed with his energy.

I have a couple of other folks I'd love to give an award to, but they haven't blogged for several weeks or months....so James, Chris, Malcontent, Gayle and Abouna....know you're winners in my book!!!

So I hope each of you have a great week, are blessed beyond belief and take the time to find those little Love Letters Papa sends each of us daily to remind us how much He loves us. Shalom.