Meet my MOM

Since Mother's Day is fast approaching I thought I'd share this photo and a little bit about my mother.  She was born Evelyn Marguerite Gilman on March 29, 1914, the oldest of eight children.  She married my dad, Gaylord N. Gardner on December 7, 1933.   They met, married and lived in the Belen, New Mexico area until 1945 when they moved to southwest Colorado.  They bought the farm that I spent my entire life on, sometime before 1948.  

This photo has the date August 1955 in the margin and is one the very first color photos in my mom's photo albums.  Left to right:  my sister, Marilyn, who is their 3rd child.  Next to her is our mom and then Janice, who is their 2nd child and the oldest girl.  The little tyke standing on the fence is the youngest of all of us, Gaye Lynn and next to her is the oldest child, Noel.

In front on the left is me, and then my brother Gerry, who is their 4th child.

My mom loved the Lord and served Him.  She loved her family and was the utmost as a farm wife and mother.  She was also a musician, played the piano and taught a multitude of piano students all through her life.  She encouraged, nurtured and helped four of her six children to learn to play and do it well, fortunately I am one of those four.  She worked hard at caring for our home, her husband and her children.  She was the best cook and knew how to raise a garden of gargantuan size, put it all away for the winter, bake, sew, do just about everything there was to do,  keep us all pretty well . . . and love us like crazy!!!   She became very ill with chronic lymphocytic leukemia which eventually, after several long, hard years, took her life on February 6, 1994.   She was quite the lady!!!!   And I miss her so much!!!  THANK YOU MOM FOR YOUR LEGACY!!!!  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

FARMGIRLS and SISTERS! FRIENDS!!!!

Farmgirls . . . . Sisters! Friends!!! This picture is one from MaryJanes Farm and one of my very favorites. It just expresses the spirit of the heart of a Farmgirl. I have three sisters and two brothers and we grew up on a true, blue, work-hard-every-day farm. We drove tractors and while I don't think that all four of us girls were ever on the tractor together and most certainly not all six of us kids, this makes me think of my family and our farm.

It also reminds me of all the Farmgirl Connection farmgirl friends I have all across the country and how much I appreciate each one of them. I have had the wonderful privilege of meeting some of these farmgirls in person (and hugging their necks!) and I will have opportunities to meet more. But we have managed to build relationships through modern technology called "cyberspace" . . and we have managed to share the kindred spirit of a farmgirl. That spirit is one of caring, sharing, encouraging and having fun together!!!

I'm grateful for Farmgirls . . . Sisters . . . Friends!!!!

Spring is Coming!

When we see the little blades of new green grass poking up through the ground and the first sign of flowers and spring it just seems to also bring a feeling of excitement! We have longer hours of sunlight, the temperatures are warming up and we see all the promise of new life. We can shake off the doldrums of the winter cold and dark nights!! Thank you Lord for spring and the new signs of life . . and allowing us to hope for the joys, newness and fresh growth you can bring into our hearts and lives!

The LORD Reigns!

PSALM 93:1-2 "The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength. Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Thy throne is established from of old; Thou art from everlasting."

New Hope for New Year

It's hard to believe that a new year has begun already! How time flies!!
It would be easy to be depressed and discouraged about the way the world is and about some of the struggles, obstacles and difficulties that come our way in our own lives.

There are many things that could "sideline" us from a closer and more intimate walk with the Lord. I, personally, am going to try to focus on having an attitude of gratitude for all that God is! After all, HE is the Creator of the universe, HE is in control of everything and HE loves me like I'm the only one He has to love.

It is because of the God that I serve that I am HOPEFUL for this new year!!! I serve the GOD OF MIRACLES!!!

Seeking God

Time with God . . . time to walk and talk with Him. Time to let Him minister and speak to us, to remind us of how very much He loves us! Time to LISTEN!!

I go for "power walks" every day that I'm not working my 12 hour shifts and am able to walk in an area near my house where it's out in nature, not interrupted by traffic and such. I see deer, elk, foxes, coyotes, ducks, geese, signs that a bear has just been by, porcupine . . . and skunks!

But it is my favorite time for prayer, time to focus on talking, walking, crying . . . or listening with my Lord!

This is from Chuck Swindoll's "Insight for Living" from earlier this week.

"Start Seeking God"

by Charles R. Swindoll

Lamentations 3:25

"Lord, I'm back and I diligently seek you." How many times have we said this? This time stop talking and sit silently. Wait patiently, seek diligently, sit silently. That means you need to pour out your heart and then deliberately be quiet. Spend a full day in quietness.

Meditation is a lost art in this modern, hurry-up world. I suggest you revive it. Not by endlessly repeating some mantra to get into some other frame of mind. Not that. Simply and silently wait before your faithful God. Read a passage of Scripture, perhaps a psalm, and let it speak. Say nothing. Just sit silently. Let Him talk. Let Him reassure you that you are fully and completely foriven and that your shame is gone. Feel His arms around you. Understand the cleansing that He's bringing. Feel again the freshness and relief of His presence.

God will give you a fresh start if you'll stop figiting. It works. I know. I've been there. Just submit to Him and accept His grace.

God will keep His promise to forgive and welcome you home.

His mercies are new ever morning.

(end excerpt)

BLESSINGS!!

We were blessed with one daughter, Robin and one son, Jeremy. Robin is now all grown up with her own family, is a 2nd grade teacher at a charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also my best friend and pal. We have been able to enjoy a wonderful friendship!!! I thank the Lord daily for this blessing, for the friendship He has given Robin and me and the kindred spirit in the things we enjoy and do together.

As we are separated by about 400 miles we don't spend a lot of time together, but our communication is almost daily!!! And our hearts are bound by the ties of love that is part of a mother/daughter relationship, a deep friendship and our mutual desire to honor and serve the Lord!!!