Wildflowers & Patience

I don't think I've seen a more beautiful spring then this spring in southeast Texas. Wildflowers are piled high everywhere you go. Bright vibrant green wild grass, and just like the cherry on top of my favorite flavor of ice cream, colorful wildflowers. As you drive down the highway, surrounding our house, down old main street, the flowers surround you. The beautiful vibrant color waking everyone's winter slumber.

This spring I feel like the beautiful wildflowers are a gift to me. I have always believed that God only gives you challenges you can handle. I remember vividly times in my life, where I have broken down and pleaded right out loud to my Father in Heaven, that "this was more than I can handle!" Even knowing what was coming next a calm cool reaction, peace that drips over me, and a strong assurance that I can handle this.

Patience is intriguing to me. I think it is a virtue that few that have ever lived have mastered. In the midst of a "challenge" it seems to be the only thing that you can think of. I know that this life is full of challenges, some who have met me may think I'm naive, that I simply don't see the negative scenes around me. Untrue, I choose to believe this life is full of happiness. And honestly probably equally bad and good. I simply choose to see the good in life, in people, in the circumstances that surround me, I choose to see the wildflowers and not the rain. But you have to endure the rain with patience to see the breathtaking wildflowers.

It's interesting at the seemingly end of a challenge, when it's so close you can see the end. God does something..... he lets us stretch. A little further, a little longer, a little more refinement. Why? I think he wants us all to rejoice more! More rejoicing in the wildflowers, more rejoicing in the giggles, more rejoicing in journey. So at this last mile of my marathon, I will choose to stretch a little farther. I will not break! I know that God only gives us what we can handle, and I choose to become that person that he knows I am! May you see your "challenges" as opportunities to touch others, to stretch further, to become the person that he wants you to be.

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What kind of cow are you?

I can honestly say, I didn't sign up for this. Moving to Texas was the perfect part of the plan, but I didn't know that perfect plan had a farm involved in it. God sends us EVERYTHING we need, I know he does. If we open our hearts and minds to listen, no matter how difficult or challenging it may seem, he feeds us EVERYTHING.

I love Saturday mornings, especially slow Saturday mornings. This slow Saturday was early into our arrival of the Wild Grass & Full Pond summer, the kids were playing happily outside. I don't remember the exact activity, but I do remember chasing lizards was on the task list. Sean was busy putting the finishing touches on his talk for sacrament meeting and I was being entertained by the children.

I think it would be a safe assumption to say I would consider myself more of a city girl. I was feeling very out of place, but intrigued by this country setting, after all I only owned a pair of flip flops and running shoes and the rest of my shoes have 4 inch heels. Contemplating my new setting was quickly interrupted by a scene taking place in the pasture. I couldn't quite tell what was happening, but as the scene unfolded my eyes quickly filled with tears. I tried not to draw the children's attention to the field, but it was inevitable.

The owners of the farm had rounded all the baby calves and herded them into an old farm truck. The mother cows were not happy. As the truck pushed it's way through the cows and across the beautiful green wild grass, the mother cows quickly fell into three categories. Some of the mothers stood trying to make a fuss, and quickly died down. The other mothers followed the truck for a short run and stopped. But one mother in particular would not stop. This mother ran as quickly as she could, making a huge scene, chasing the truck with her baby all the way through the pasture, until the truck had come to a stop to open the gate to get out onto the road. She didn't stop, she dug her hooves into the soft wet ground, making as much noise as she could, protesting as loudly as she could.

I came into the house sobbing, not only because the baby calves were gone, but at the surprising lesson one mother cow taught me. What kind of cow was I going to be? I am so blessing with an amazing mother that did chase me all across the field, who protested bad decisions I made, but she NEVER gave up!

I believe God gives us what we need, he feeds it to us, but are we always listening? If we open our hearts and minds to listen, no matter how difficult or challenging it may seem, he feeds us EVERYTHING!