I got this paper weight at a thrift store for a few dollars. It amazes me..How did they get something as fragile as a dandelion inside this without tearing it up?

It sits on my table to inspire me..

Have you ever noticed the fragile things in life are what touch us the most?

Candles in jelly jars that illuminate the night like fairy lanterns..The soft petals of rose moss flowers..A wish upon a shooting star..fireflies in the midnight sky..and a dandelion trapped in a paper weight.

xoxo Nita

i hope you have time to listen to the song..i love it

The Travails of a Snail..

I found Jim one bright morning in my Marigolds. I had bought them from the green house the previous day.

He had decided to slip in one of the pots going to my house. He had never traveled much in his young life and decided it was about time he did.


When I happened upon him he was sound asleep but woke up and started sticking his head out to see if he had perhaps landed in a tropical location. He was hoping for Hawaii. He longed to surf and lay on the beach, preferably under some one's surf board.






But alas, he woke up just 10 miles from where he was born. In a very hot and miserable climate. He just about cried.




He put his little head very low to the ground and said a prayer.

"God, he began, Why am I here? It sucks here God!" He was more than a little angry but still trying hard to remain respectful. It was God after all. And he really didn't want to end up as Es Cargo. Shudder...

God spoke to Jim.

"Jim, sometimes you just got to bloom where your planted. And good things will come your way. I promise. You will get to travel someday. And you will be happy."




Well after that Jim felt good as gold. He actually felt like a million bucks. He started scoping out his layout. And decided on a spot for his home.


He began to look for a way down. And the ravine he faced, looked deep. Gasp and gulp..


But he had an epiphany.."The ravine looks like I can't cross it, but with God's help I can do anything. And he felt his heart get stronger.

Jim slowly began to maneuver his way across the ravine. And I won't kid you. It was tough for him. He inched his way across it ...






And after Jim made it to the ground he found a dark quiet place and set about making a home.


He cleaned and picked up his area and ate a meal. I won't tell you what he ate, it was pretty gross. But it tasted good to Jim.



Well Jim began to bloom. He looked for opportunities on the bleak days. He looked for ways to encourage others around him. And he was always there when his friends needed him.

I learned a lot from Jim.


photos and story by me
xoxo nita

tonight's song, Use Somebody by The King of Leon
the video is above my profile, further down the page
i hope you get a chance to listen to it
I love this song..

P.s happy father's day John..we love you.

Me and Elizabeth were eating breakfast this morning, and we were talking about one song we wished we would have played at John's funeral. This song.

We had forgot to add this on to the CD we burned. It reminds us of him so much.

John talked about his Dad on a daily basis and about how much he missed him. He said he felt like his Dad was the only person who truly understood him when he was growing up. John never got over losing him. When our daughter was born it was marred by sadness because his Dad would never see her. He wanted His Dad to see her so much. And John said that when he passed away, his Dad was the person he wanted to see first.

for you John..
xoxo Nita

P.s i take the songs off after a few days because if I leave too many on, they tend to slow down the computer.

Yesterday I poured a gallon of water on my concrete drive. It puddled up rather quickly, and as it did, I began to see the reflection of the maple trees that hang over the drive in it. Then suddenly the sun showered bright rays through the trees in the reflection.

I walked back to the porch, and as I did a blackbird came and dropped a piece of dog food into the puddle. He softened it for a minute then gobbled it up and flew off. After he left, some sparrows came and took swift sips from it. Chirping cheerfully together as they did.

Amazing how one simple act can be transformed into something magic.

xoxo Nita

The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places.
-Ernest Hemingway
A Farewell to Arms

I found this quote in a wonderful book. And it really hit him me hard. We become strong by being broken.

My back has been out the last two weeks and I was woke early this morning by the pain. I rode my exercise bike for awhile and watched John Hagee on TV. For those who don't know him he is a preacher in Texas. His sermon tied in with the quote I had found.

The words he spoke this morning touched me deeply. He talked about how we are put through trials so God can make us strong. One of his quotes today was : "Adversity is God's University."

He gave an example of how he and his wife had visited a potters shop. He asked the potter how he knew when the piece he was working on was done. The potter told him he would take the piece out of the fire while it was red hot, he then would flick it at a certain spot and if it sang it was done.

That spoke to me.

It has been hard the last few months for me to be happy during adversity. But God has given me peace in the last week. Even in my physical pain.

It has also been extremely hard for me to get over my past. But today I made a resolution to overcome. I want to leave it behind me. I will not be overcome by it. I will find the solution for my life through Christ.

I know everything will not be solved over night. But I am working on it. I am determined not to give up.

If anyone is going through a tough time please know that you are an over comer. I have felt like the weakest person alive at times. But God is making me strong and he will make you strong too.

xoxo Nita