Consumers and Creators

We are both consumers and creators…gotta keep this balanced though.

Don’t let our consumptions exceed our creations. If all we do is consume what another has made and don’t contribute our own makings, we can easily become inward focused… and life isn’t as fun.

Somehow, it adds to our lives when we do things for others; make things not only for ourselves, but think how our neighbor, or coworker could benefit from some creation of our doing.

When I was little, mom had a book called, “Make and Do”.  I Ioved that little book. Whenever I didn’t have anything to do, mother said to go get the Make and Do book and make something. I’d get busy and my brother and I would make a frog out of a washcloth rolled up here and there and tied with rubber bands. or we’d make play dough and shape a bowl of fruit.  Or make something out of paper plates or an egg carton. Then we’d give it to somebody else in the family. 

These were nothing special, but the feeling of doing something with another person in mind to receive it was an important growth step for us. It’s something to keep practicing all our lives.

Can you think of someone in your life to make something for?

Make it, and see how you feel when you give it to them… and they say thank you! 

The Rock Hound

That’s me! Always was, still is…

Ever since I was little, rocks and pebbles caught my attention. My brother and I made pottery dishes from river basin mud, and the pebbles were peas and rice for our pretend supper, I even swallowed a couple of those ‘peas’.

My favorite days were rainy days, mom let me put my boots on and take my umbrella and wander around our large gravel driveway, peering into puddles at every interesting rock color and shape (I guess I looked like the Morton salt girl), but I loved and collected those gems!

My 4-H rock collection display won a ribbon, but one rock fell off… it was too heavy. I kept that collection for years!

Grown-up me is still collecting rocks, edging every garden with them; our youngest son learned how to count in kindergarten, by helping count the rocks his two older brothers helped me gather and put in place.

Currently, rocks scallop around my sedum plants, and are randomly tossed in the garden with other fun stuff. Rocks and plants go together.

Now I’m placing them in small succulent planters for indoor use.

I love rocks!

Do you like rocks?

Fall Comfort

There’s a certain autumn comfort around crops being harvested…

…Trees turning colors, produce gathered and canned up or frozen… in anticipation of winter’s onslaught when the ground is frozen and hard.

Knowing we will be taken care of since we took care to plan ahead for our families and loved ones… and because crops have been abundant we could provide for others needs.

Growing up, one of my favorite songs to sing was, “Come Ye Thankful People Come”….raise the song of harvest home, all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin, God our maker doth provide, for our wants to be supplied……… Singing the song and helping mom in the kitchen really brought peace and comfort to my soul.

God will provide.

He will provide for you.