Those Wascaly Wabbits!!

I have 5 flower gardens in my front yard and two perrenial gardens in my backyard. Four of the front gardens have tulips and other spring time bulbs in them. It is not unusual to see rabbits running around our yard, and even our neighborhood. And as I'm sure you can guess, rabbits + tulips = bad news. Well, I have never been a real pesticide oerson, rather I prefer more natural mathods of control. Up until now the rabbits have maybe eaten the tips of of my tulip leaves...annoying yes, but not terrible. However, 2 days ago after coming home from taking Wynn to school, I lost it! I looked at my garden, and where there were 9 grape hyacinth plants growing and flowering beautifully, there were now 9 green little stubs sticking out of the dirt!!!! I was livid, that's it...now I mean war! Many people have mentioned putting moth balls on their gardens to control rabbits so I thought I'd give it a try. Conveniently, I was already making a trip to my local Walmart so while I was there I picked up the biggest box of moth balls I could find. It rained all day yesterday so I figured I'd spread them on the flowers today as the rain had stopped. First I went onto the 'net to figure out how exactly to apply these (whole, crush, sprinkle...) and that's when I read something that I hadn't realized or "put 2 and 2 together" so to say. Moth balls are very toxic just google "moth balls toxic" and you will see what I mean. Well, I defenitly don't want them in my house or even on my flowers where my children can get at them. I'm returning them ASAP and going to get some other rabbit deterrent. In my searching I read many ways people suggest of controlling rabbits from fencing, trap & release, pepper spray, and motion detectors. On one site I read, someone suggested planting chives around the flowers and someone else mentioned placeing branches from their Russian Sage bush around the flowers. These last two I prefer and may try. Have any of you had problems with rabbits eating your gardens? If so, what works for you?

Happy Nurse's Day

The week of Nurse's Week is different in the US (May 6-12) and Canada (May 12-18). However International Nurse's Day is celebrated around the world on May 12. Today's date is also the anniversary of Florence Nightengale's birthday. Florence Nightengale often considered the founder of nursing still serves as a model for nurse's today. I have been a nurse since graduation in 2000. After I graduated, I worked in palliative care nursing for 6 years and for the last 2 1/2 years I've been working on a personal care unit. In palliative care, the focus was providing comfort and end of life care to both the patient and the family. Personal care is more chronic and long-term but still we work with both the patients and the families who are often burnt out from looking after their elderly parents/loved ones at home. I really enjoy nursing as it is an ever growing and changing profession with so many different faces.

Here are just a few facts about nursing...Think you know nursing? Take a closer look:

• Nurses are the largest group of health-care providers in Canada, representing more than one-third of the health-care workforce.
• There are more than 270,00 registered nurses (RNs) in Canada.
• The average age of RNs employed in nursing in Canada is 45.
• For every RN in Canada who is 35 years of age or younger, there are 1.9 RNs who are 50 or older.
• One out of every five (20.8 %) RNs in Canada is 55 or older - eligible to retire.
• In 2005, approximately 87% of RNs were employed in the jurisdictions in which they graduated. Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Alberta attracted the greatest proportion of out-of-province graduates.
• Only 56.3 % of Canada's RNs are employed full-time.
• In Canada, 12.7 % of RNs report having more than one nursing employer.

Devotional for mother's day....and every day!

A link for great women's devotionals can be found here, including the devotional below:

So Where's the Proverbs 31 Woman??

• A Hurting Word...

Start looking...you may find her in the kitchen microwaving fast food, or in the car transporting kids and stopping to GET fast food. You may find her doing the third load of laundry for the day (or night, if she works outside the home too!), or cleaning toilets, changing beds, picking up clutter...OR you may just find her hassled, harried, and hiding under the bed! I know one Proverbs 31 woman who did just that. With four boys to handle, and no break time whatsoever, she'd play hide-and-seek with the boys, hide under the bed, and break-away as long as she could until they would find her!
AND if you're a mom, you may be there today--or tomorrow--for after all the wonderful Mother's Day celebrations are done, you're just beginning--another week, another laundry load, another meal, another taxi trip, another homework help--and whatever else is going on in your home--it's one wild, wacky world that we moms live in. How we survive is a miracle--and only by the grace of God do we make it! But sometimes that grace "seems" like it's not enough. Now we KNOW it IS, but somedays we sure don't feel like it! Ever been there? Those are the days we need to run to the Psalms and read all the troubles and trials of David--how God listened, loved, and brought him through (and he wasn't even a MOM)!
This devotional is for all moms hiding under the bed today! Stop laying a guilt trip on yourself for what you don't do, for what you need to do, for what you should do, for what "everybody else" does! God doesn't look at what you DO but who you ARE! And so if you're hiding under the bed (every mom does that SOME time!), and you haven't fallen asleep, get up and come to the Well--for Jesus, who loves MOMS, is waiting to love us all!

• A Helping Word...or Two!

She Knows Who She Is!

Sure, she's imperfect, sometimes impractical, somedays even impossible--give her a break, she's human! But KNOW that beyond it all, she's a daughter of the King. She's Blood-bought, soul-cleansed, beauty-clad in the garment of righteousness, and in God's eyes, she's a Proverbs 31 woman of great honor, dignity and worth! She's been given a great task, but by God's grace, she's going to lean on her Lord, love her family, and do the very best she can. That's all God asks! His words for Mom? "...I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)."

She Knows Whom She Serves!

Sure, she gets PMS, has crying spells, tired time-outs and frantic fits--give her a break, she's human! But KNOW that beyond it all, she serves her Lord first, then her family...and it MAY be fast food--but they know they are loved. Her love and devotion are strong and on those days when her strength is all gone (and that could be every day!), she runs to the Lord, the greatest Servant of all. He knows, understands and doesn't scold for every deed left undone. He doesn't even notice! His words to Mom? "Well, done, thou good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21KJV).!" Quiet your tired heart for just a minute--and you'll hear it!

She Knows Where She's Going!

Sure, some days she has no idea where she's going or even who she is--give her a break, she's human! But KNOW that beyond it all, she's not going down the path that leads to destruction. Her eyes are on her Lord--and she may not know the whole trip plan but like Sarah (who tagged along with Abraham), she too is going out, not knowing where, but just following the Lord with her whole heart. Her eyes see beyond earthly possessions and fortunes--her eyes are on her Lord and wherever He leads, you'll find her following. Does she ever stumble? You'd better believe it--but she doesn't stay down long--for she's a Proverbs 31 woman who believes God's words, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV)."

So where's the Proverbs 31 woman? In GOD'S loving care! He loves and understands; He's there--wherever we are--"He careth for YOU (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)."! If you know who you are, whom you serve and where you're going, you're a Proverbs 31 woman in God's eyes--so get out from under that bed, Mom! Know deep in your heart that the Lord loves you and wants you to "lie down" not under the bed, but "in green pastures,"--HIS pastures of love, peace and joy. May the Lord help us Moms all over the world to be still enough to hear His voice of love, feel His touch of grace, and know that we're going to make it! Happy Mother's Day--all year long--and if you're not a Mom, but you know someone who is, go find her and give her the hug of her life--she deserves it today and every day!

• His Healing Words

Bible Gateway.com - Psalm+139:1-24">A Psalm for Moms Hiding Under the Bed!

Bible Gateway.com - Proverbs+31:1-31">Now Get Up and Get Going--You are a Proverbs 31 Woman!

"Lord, sometimes I DO feel like hiding under a bed--guilt, self-accusations, doubts and distresses overwhelm me. On those days, help me to know that YOU love, understand and are there to see me through. I am a woman of worth and dignity--because I love You, I serve You, and I follow You. Thank You, Lord, for understanding and loving me--just the way I am; thank You for helping me become the woman You want me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!

Friday Fill-In #71

1. The cookies had an extra secret ingredient; it was ...a secret that the kids added!
2. It looks warmer through my window (than it feels outside).
3. Right now, I need a vacation.
4. My son's soccer game is where I went Thursday night; it was unseasonable cold.
5. Why does a paper cut hurt so much?
6. All I can think of is the friend in need I have so far away.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early, tomorrow my plans include going to work (BLAH!) and Sunday, I want to relax at my mother's place after a long day's work as we have been invited to eat supper there!

Praying On Your Fingers

Prayer is one thing I find very difficult to do. Often, I hear other's pray and it sounds so natural. I know you don't need big flowery words to talk to God but so often I don't even know what to say or where to start. One of my daily devotional readings last week helped me with that and I want to share it here:

"Many children learn to count on their fingers, but a nurse once taught a child to pray on his fingers. This was her method:
Your thumb is the digit nearest to your heart, so pray first for those who are closest to you. Your own needs, of course, should be included, as well as those of your beloved family and friends.
The second finger is the one you use for pointing. Pray for those who point you toward the truth, whether at church or school. Pray for your teachers, mentors, pastors, and those who inspire your faith.
The third finger is the tallest. Let it stand for the leaders in every sphere of life. Pray for those in authority - both within the body of Christ and those who hold office in various areas of government.
The fourth finger is the weakest, as every pianist knows. Let it stand for those who are in trouble and pain - the sick, injured, abused, wounded or hurt.
The little finger is the smallest. Let it stand for those who often go unnoticed, including those who suffer abuse and deprivation.

What a great tool to use in teaching children how to pray for themselves and others! What a simple and wonderful reminder to use as we pray ourselves!"

Teacher Appreciation Day

Today, May 6, 2008 is Teacher Appreciation Day. Teacher Appreciation Week this year falls on May 4-10, 2008. Even though this is not an official holiday and you can probably find a "__ Day" for everyday on the calendar, I think it deserves to be made note of. Teachers are very important people in our children's lives. My oldest son is just finishing up grade 1 but already each of his teachers have been so special and played an important part in his life. Infact, as old as I am, I can still think of and remember certain teachers that affected my life in a positive way. Here are a couple poems that I read re. teachers and want to share as I am not a great writer or speaker and feel they say it better than I can:

WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?
Author Unknown

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."



THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER
Author Unknown

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children.

An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."

"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:
…must stand above all students, yet be on their level
... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught
... must run on coffee and leftovers,
... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time
... must have more time for others than for herself/himself
... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents
... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive
... must have 6 pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's impossible"

"Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating. "It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

A great site to go to if you need or want ideas on how to show that special teacher of yours how much you really appreciate them is : http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/
A teacher is so often there to give you a pat on the back or that encouragement you need to do something, now is our turn to give them "a pat on the back" and say how much we appreciate them.