My Delightful Journal

     I have always  wanted to garden on a regular basis. I started with just potted flowers a few years back - mixing and matching different flowers for the front porches. Some ended poorly (especially the ones this year), and some of them bloomed longer than I expected. Either way, it isn't about the flower for me. It's about getting my hands dirty and about watching a rainbow of colors grow together to make a 3D picture.       We took the plunge this year and decided to have an actual vegetable/fruit garden. It was definitely going to be a financial investment and some buckets full of sweat (mostly my husband's - not mine).  *You can read more about the specifics of our garden and some newbie tips and tricks later!*      This little garden has been quite the teacher. I've learned some hard work, some frustration, and some disappointment. Allow me to hop in my English pants for a bit and share some life-lesson metaphors that my garden has showed to me. 

      Webster’s Dictionary defines strong-willed as “ very determined to do something even if other people say it should not be done.” I don’t think Mr. Webster had any strong-willed children because that definition is an understatement. He craftfully uses the phrase when others say “it should not be done”, opposed to it cannot be done. Choosing to do something despite people’s doubt is determination . That characteristic is not in question because determination is a choice. Being strong-willed is a personality…uhm.. struggle. Struggle for whom?       Personality types and quirks can involve many people, not just the person to whom they belong. Oh yes, that person must learn the good and bad of their personality in hopes to use it properly or at least not get themselves in trouble. It also affects family, friend, teachers, and RANDOM PEOPLE (Yes, that’s the worse… When it affects random people.) You know, like the random people in the grocery store or at the doctor’s office

     I asked my husband what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. He replied, "The chocolate cream cake that my mom and Nana make." UGH!!!! Now, I have to live up to the standards of my mother-in-law. 😳 I'm only somewhat joking; my MIL and I are fantastic friends.. It did make me nervous though!      My MIL was very specific when I requested the recipe... "About 2 cups of confectioner sugar and somewhere 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa..." Thanks, Mom. I'll figure it out on my own.       Either way, I did it! And everyone loved it! It's super  easy and super delicious. It's a nice cake to take to a party or church fellowship, which is what I use it for.      INGREDIENTS: - Marble Cake Mix (and the other ingredients on the back of the box) - 2 cups of confectioner's sugar - 3 Tablespoons of baking cocoa  - 1 pint of heavy cream  Step 1: Make the marble cake according to the instructions on the box. If you've never made marble c

          The  "The Woman at the Well" is my favorite account in all of Scripture. One reason is because I enjoy taking a little bit of artistic license at the end of some of the New Testament stories. Like, what really happened to her? Did she completely change? Did she get married again and have kids? Did she already have kids? Did she drop everything and follow Jesus everywhere? Here’s my crazy idea: *Now what if she followed Jesus, her life changed dramatically, and then she actually married one of Jesus’ disciples? Now that would be a turn of events!* See how far out I get?          What’s up with this chick?          We can learn a little more than maybe we want to about this woman from this short passage of Scripture based on her reactions to the Messiah and her quick responses. Before you start judging too quickly, just see if any of her characteristics sound familiar in your life.          She was kind of blunt for a woman of her day. In verse 9, both when