Amelia Island Garden Show

Coming to Central Park, March 6 and 7, 2010!

Come celebrate Nature in full bloom.

The inaugural Amelia Island Garden Show produced by the Fernandina Farmers Market will roll out nature’s brightest colors for two days on March 6 & 7, 2010 at Central Park in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.

With growers and nurseries from around the state, the Amelia Island Garden Show will feature more than 50 vendors with a full assortment of flowers, plants, trees and palms, orchids, bonsai, water pond accessories, native plants, butterfly-friendly plants, shrubs, and garden accessories.

On-site experts will offer advice as to “greening” your home, yard and garden. “Ask the Expert booth” will offer short presentations and demonstrations from sustainable gardening to Orchids 101.

Featured attractions include: The Butterfly Encounter and The Raptor Experience.

The farmers and producers of the Fernandina Farmers Market will also be part of the Show with their just harvested produce, organic products, gourmet baked goods and variety of prepared foods.

Check out the website for more details:
www.ameliagarden.com

Life Plan

From the website “Journey to the Cross”
Friday, March 5, 2010
http://www.d365.org/journeytothecross/

Dear God, at your earliest convenience, could you please send me a detailed list of your plans for my life and for the world? That would really help me out and I promise I won’t tell anyone. Thanks!

Oh, if only life were so easy and God were so clear! Sure, God is pretty evident when you see a beautiful sunset or a child born or when a stranger offers words of encouragement. But that day-to-day life thing – not so much.

A hallmark of our faith is that at the end of the day, we are claimed by God to be part of God’s unfolding of life and creation. We are not always going to know how we fit into that unfolding, but we believe that we are somehow part of its realization. While this could be daunting and overwhelming, it is also a chance for us to embrace the art and dance of faith. We struggle with God’s word to us through scripture to guide our lives. We navigate the nuances of communal discernment. We come to God in prayer, lifting our voices to God, seeking to know God’s will. What an amazing gift of faith we have, knowing God so deeply that we trust God without even knowing where God may be leading us!

Bruce Reyes-Chow

Amazing God, open my heart and mind to your presence during this season of Lent. Allow me the wisdom to trust in the unfolding of your hopes in my life and in the world. Amen.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

The Pine Trees Know Its Easter

check out this inspirational anecdote set to the music How Great Thou Art

http://wandascountryhome.com/pinetrees/index

Today

Lent for me is a time when I make a conscious effort to get closer to God, through prayer, meditation, attending church services, reading, writing, and listening. I typically do not watch TV very much, and I usually find plenty of miscellaneous “busy” stuff to fill the time I would otherwise be stuck in front of that little box. But during the 40 days of Lent, I try to simplify even more, to give myself plenty of quiet time, when I do nothing except the basic things I listed above. Not only is this experience calming and relaxing, but I really do find that I can establish a peaceful and tranquil environment and let my mind be completely open to whatever thoughts and dialogue come to me. There are so many resources that I come in contact with to stimulate my thoughts and help to make my meditation time more meaningful. It might be something I read, something I see, something I hear, or a conversation with another person. I start to really think about it, and before long, I am understanding on a deeper level, listening for whatever God is trying to tell me through the particular resource. This year, a resource I have found particularly valuable is the Daily Lenten Devotional by members of the St. George Church Family. I am so thankful to all the contributors, for their thoughts and explanations, insights and the lessons learned. Reading a page each day gets me in the right frame of mind to start my quiet time where my own thoughts can flow freely. As suggested in the Devotional, I have also started a Lenten Journal which is helping me capture my thoughts, feelings and experiences during this contemplative time of year. One habit I have started this Lent is to start each day with some personal affirmations, to get the day started off the way I want to, and to remind myself of the actions and behaviors I choose to embrace and those that I choose to release. It is really working for me and I wanted to share the practice to help anyone else who would like to try it. Here are my affirmations – feel free to use these, or add your own personal ones that have the most meaning to you.

TODAY, WITH GOD’S HELP:

• I CHOOSE TO BE AT PEACE WITH MYSELF;
• I CHOOSE TO ACCEPT MYSELF AS I AM, AND OTHERS AS THEY ARE;
• I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY AND JOYFUL;
• I CHOOSE TO EMBRACE HOPE AND POSITIVE ENERGY;
• I CHOOSE TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND ABLE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING CALMLY;
• I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE OTHERS AND ACCEPT FORGIVENESS FOR MYSELF;
• I CHOOSE TO EAT FOOD THAT NOURISHES AND STRENGTHENS MY BODY AND CONTRIBUTES TO MY HEALTH AND MY WELL BEING;
• I CHOOSE TO ENJOY EVERY EXPERIENCE THAT COMES ALONG;
• I CHOOSE TO CARE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS WITH DEEP LOVE;
• I CHOOSE TO SEE ALL DIFFICULTIES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE ME STRONGER;
• I CHOOSE TO RELEASE ALL ANGER, FEAR AND GUILT COMPLETELY;
• I CHOOSE TO RELEASE ALL NEGATIVE EMOTIONS;
• I CHOOSE TO RELEASE ALL STRESS AND ANXIETY;
• I CAN ACCOMPLISH ANY TASK WITH EASE;
• I INTEND THAT MY ACTIONS HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT;

TODAY, I AM THANKFUL TO GOD AND I AM GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE.

- AMEN -

“All is well in my world”

Just wanted to share some positive energy for today! Came across this article from the website www.the-benefits-of-positive-thinking.com. Lots of great stuff. Check it out if you get a chance!

The Best Positive Phrases You Can Have Now

It’s not always easy to keep a positive attitude. Some of us choose to use positive phrases and affirmations repeated with intention to maintain a positive attitude. The best positive statements contain powerful words and make us feel great about ourselves, the world and the future. I have collected the following phrases for you. They are powerful sentences that aim to uplift you and help you have a positive attitude. I like chucking some of these phrases into my Affirmation Ticker, which displays them for me smoothly rolling by on a bar across the top of my computer screen – a great way to be inspired whenever you’re at your computer! Wait no more, and grab your positive phrases here…

* I accept life as it comes. Every day I become more and more the complete person I truly am.

* I intend to make a positive impact on the people I come in contact with.

* I am willing to forgive myself and learn from my mistakes to become a better person.

* I appreciate all acts of kindness that many people have toward me.

* I am thankful for being alive.

* I keep a flexible attitude toward changes in life.

* I welcome the future with a happy and open attitude.

* I intend to be more kind toward the people I come in contact with daily.

* I am grateful for all the possibilities that lie before me at present.

* I choose to be kind to myself.

* I am open to receive more wisdom every day.

* I choose to live my life with a purpose and give back to the world.

* I decide to release myself from old patterns of thought that no longer serve me.

* I choose to see all the opportunities that are presented to me daily.

* I forgive everyone that has ever done wrong to me. I choose to release all resentments. I choose peace and freedom.

* I choose to live my life daily to the fullest always in the present moment.

Have a great day :-)

A Reminder of the Good We Do

Because of the tragedy in Haiti, I am reposting this thank you note from Dorothy Pearce with links to her orphange for those of you who have been asking for information on worthy causes to support .  We have contributed to Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue for a number of years. 

Also, here is a link to Dorothy’s blog, detailing her experience throughout the earthquake and letting us know she and the children survived, a little battered, but ok.  http://dorothypearcehaiti.blogspot.com/

Here is the original post from October 14:

We regularly get thank you notes from people and organizations we have helped.   I wanted to share just one that we received today.  This is not to pat ourselves on the back or to rest on our laurels, but just a reminder of the impact our little church can have on the world far away from our lovely little island.

This note is from Dorothy Pearce and the Faith-Hope-Love-Infant Rescue which is part of the Christian Light Foundation.  The photo is of one little girl who was rescued.  Let’s pray Haiti gets through this hurricane season better than it did last year.  They are still suffering and still need our help.

If you click on the letter or photo it will take you to their website.

Letter from Dorothy PearceEmanuella - Haiti Infant Rescue

“The Help” reviewed by Heather DeVries

Kathryn Stockett’s first novel is wonderful. What a way to start 2010 by reading a story about a time in Mississippi which we all remember – the 60’s. A young white woman decides to interview black maids about their lives and the lives of the people for whom they work. It is a study in bias, racism and lines that need to be crossed; there is unspeakable cruelty and some loving kindness, unfortunately more of the former and less of the latter. It is a fast, fantastic read – you will not be sorry you took the time. I loved it.

The Snow Lay on the Ground

The children have been working on a song for our Christmas celebration.  I found this source on the Internet that you can go to and hear the music to practice with them at home.  Hope has the words posted on our website under the Sunday School tab.  They will be singing the first and last verse.

http://www.christmas-songs.org/songs/the_snow_lay_on_the_ground.html

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

[Here's a cute little ditty going around on the Internet.]

1.  Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
wine choco
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

Larry’s Silly Christmas Song

Christmas cookiesHere’s another Veggie Tales clip we just have to share!  Enjoy a sweet little song about goodwill to others and a few yummy cookies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dnKKcPncQ0&NR=1