Woolly Daisy

I thought you might be curious, as to why I chose the name Woolly Daisy for my site.  A Woolly Daisy is a wildflower, in the sunflower family, that grows in the desert.  It blooms in the Spring for only 3 months, March to May.  It is is often overlooked, as it blends into the gravel, sand and also because of it’s height, of 4-6 inches.  It has a white woolly stem with white or yellow rays and yellow clusters in the center and can sometimes be 3 lobed.

 I see a similarity between this flower, myself  and the journey that I have been on.  First of all it’s a wildflower, which pretty much says it all right there!  It is also in the sunflower family.  A sunflower is strong, durable, provides nourishment, is colorful and has a warmth about it.  I would like to think that is how I am perceived by others.  It grows in the desert where nothing should, in sandy, rocky and non-fertile ground.  My life has mirrored that footing but our God is so Great, that He gives us that same Hope, that we can grow and flourish even in adverse conditions.  It is easily overlooked, which is surprising with it’s bright color, beauty and intricacy.  However, for many of those in the desert of life, His blessings seem so often to have the same fate.  Are you overlooking the beautiful blessings in your life?  

The Woolly Daisy blooms only 3 months of the year, so if you’re not looking for it, you may miss it.  Perhaps that is why some people remain in the desert  for so long.  They keep missing the simple yet often profound message that God is trying to share with them, so they must stay yet another long season until it blooms again.  That being said start living life with your eyes “wide open”!  

I thought it interesting, that it is 3 lobed.  It reminds me of the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit), man (mind, body, and soul and I’m not talking R&B or funk!), that Jesus died and rose again on the 3rd day.  Then there are things like decorating, the umbilical cord (contains 2 arteries and 1 vein), the stomach of a camel or lama, baseball (3 bases and 3 strikes your out), the branches of government (Legislative, Executive and Judicial) just to name a few.  It’s God’s fingerprint that we live life in, with and marvel at everyday.  

I have traveled in and out of the desert many times throughout my life.  It is in the desert though that I have always felt the closest to God, seen Him more clearly, witnessed His provision more abundantly and been less distracted by it’s simplicity.  Isn’t it ironic that we try, so desperately, to leave as quickly as possible.  I have questioned if perhaps the desert “is” truly my promised land.

Woolly Daisy

Valentine’s Day Princess

 

 

 

 

Girls putting their "Be Mine" necklace together

God's little princess

Be Mine Craft

This year I decided to do a Valentine’s Day party for my girls and their friends.  Prior to that I was feeling really convicted, as to the purpose of my events.  This has become my challenge…”parties with a purpose”.  How was I going to work God into a Valentine’s Day party without sounding churchy or awkward?  These are the things I loose sleep over, I realize it’s silly but it’s true.  Just so you know, for the most part, nothing I do is totally original.  It’s just all modified or built upon to make it work for me and the event.  After searching around I found a template for Shrinky Dink Valentine’s in a Hallmark magazine.  This is what we did:  I e-mailed my wonderful brother-in-law, Eric, to change up the 4 templates and also include a scripture verse.  We baked them ahead of time for safety and time constraints.  Our craft began with a story, which my girls, Elle and Danika were more than happy to participate in.  The girls came out dressed in princess dresses and this is the conversation that ensued:  What are Elle and Danika dressed as?  Guest response “Princesses”!  What other things do the girls need to make them a princess?  (I had a bag filled with items that a posing princess might need: a tiara, jewels, wands, boas, feather fans and fancy shoes.  They all guessed every item in the bag…what little girl wouldn’t!)  What if you took all of these fancy things away, underneath what is left?  Guest response:  Just a girl.  That’s right a girl just like you.  What makes a princess different from other little girls, who does she need to have for a father?  Guest response: A king  Have you ever heard of the greatest King of all time, ruler over all things?  Jesus, all who believe in Him become his children, making each girl young and old his little princess.

 This “Be Mine” craft is to remind you that you too are a princess.  The words Be Mine: tell you that Jesus wants you to be His;  The pink heart: that you are a treasured jewel;  The ribbons: that you come from a family of royalty; The scripture - Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love: That God has always loved you and always will, no matter what  

This party was really a faith growing experience for me, sort of a full circle thing that doesn’t happen often.  First of all I only invited girls, as not to get out of control with the invite list.    I have a hard time limiting the guest list, I never want to leave anyone out.  That being said there were already 20 girls invited.  I hadn’t asked anyone from Dani’s speech class, for fear that some of their special needs may not be met during the party, due to the large number of girls attending.  However, the more I thought about it, I just couldn’t “not” invite them.  Besides, I told myself, like most school friends in the past they probably wouldn’t come.  Well shortly before the party, I stopped into school one morning to drop Dani off.  The mother of one of the girls was sitting there in the classroom.  She quickly told me she was sorry that she hadn’t RSVP’d but they would be there and her daughter was excited to have been invited.  I was a bit shocked and pleased at the same time.  When Friday rolled around I started to second guess myself and exactly what I would be sharing the following day.  I had no idea the religious background of this family.  I wasn’t sure how they would take being invited to a Valentine’s Day party where, unbeknown to them, the gospel was going to be subtlely shared.  That night I prayed for boldness, wisdom and  for clarity in my words.  At 11am Saturday the little girl arrived along with her mom and dad, who came in to ask what time they should be back to pick up their daughter.  I couldn’t believe it, they had never really met me and they were leaving her here…alone.  Inside I was doing the happy dance!  She had a great time, she spoke little but when she did I fully understood her and she watched wide eyed, as I shared the story about the princess, the King and the “Be Mine” craft.  When her mom came in to pick her up she told me that the following Tuesday would be her daughters last day, as they were moving and changing schools.  As we said goodbye and closed the door behind them I thought to myself, what if God worked all this out for “that moment that she will take with her, now knowing that she is a princess, forever loved by the King of all Kings?  

That following week her teacher told me that Dani’s classmate had had a wonderful time at the party and talked about it in class.  Her teacher was so happy that she had been invited and thought it was a first for her.  When I told her teacher that the girls mother had left her at the party, she was totally surprised.  Her comment to me was “she never leaves her alone”.  I may never see how the story ends, but it’s enough for me to know that I was obedient in sharing the joy that comes with knowing Jesus and that He was in the details.