Adam is the new author for the day!

So I'm new to this whole blog thing, but apparently you post thoughts and such for the world to read etc...so here goes nothing!! Since Sybil usually shares much of her work and life inside the home, I thought I would share some of what's been going on outside...the usual grass cutting and weedeating is ever present, but the thing I'm most excited about is our garden! When we first began looking for a house I made known my desire to have a backyard space big enough to have a place to grow vegetables and such as I have done this as long as I can remember. Well we found us one, and though it's not huge, our garden is just right and I am happy to report is starting to grow...the tomatoes and peppers are all looking happy in their new home and all of my seeds are beginning to sprout! We've got much of the usual garden veggies like squash and zucchini, okra and beans, and even cucumbers and sunflowers. (one of Sybil's favorites!!) We have in our backyard a beautiful silver maple that is at least 50 years old. (this according to our neighbors who have lived next door for 47 years) This type of tree if you are not familiar with it is truly stunning in the sunshine with a light breeze blowing. The tops of the leaves are green while the underside is silver (hence the name silver maple) and with a light breeze blowing through the tree it appears to shine as the leaves reflect the sunlight...what a perfect way for God to remind His children we are to be reflections of His life and love! Writing this reminds me of a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander
Maker of Heaven and Earth

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

(insert side note here...there is an author James Herriot whose books about his veterinary practice in rural England have titles borrowed from the first stanza of this poem, I highly recommend them!)

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly
and ordered their estate.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day,

He gave us eyes that we might see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

In other aspects of life, my new job at Children's has been truly awesome. It has sparked some thoughts though. I will preface these thoughts by saying first and foremost I am not a parent and because of that have no personal basis for what the parent/child relationship is like. And though I've been a nurse for almost three years now, nothing in my previous experience nor in nursing school prepared me for some of the social issues I would have to face...all that being said... How do you tell a little girl who is going to surgery that her mom couldn't find a way to get to the hospital and so she will have to go to the OR alone? Or what do you tell the little boy who was in a wreck that claimed the life of his mother when he cries out for her? What do you say to the couple who just adopted a little boy and nine weeks later find out he has a disorder that will plague him the rest of his life? These are just some of the thoughts I have had in the past several weeks. In all of them however God has been gracious to provide answers to these questions. In the gospel of John 15:12 Jesus tells His disciples, "This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you..." When you get right down to it, that's all I'm there to do, sure I can give some medicine or draw some blood, but it's the holding a hand, or rocking a child, or offering up a quietly uttered prayer on behalf of a child; that seems to me to be loving as Christ does. It is listening as new parents are faced with seemingly impossible news and then encouraging them to seek God and His strength rather than their own. It is hugging a grandmother who has health problems of her own and who has been standing tirelessly by her grandson's bed and assuring her that God tells us in His word that He is sovereign in ALL things. So, this is life around the Waters house in H-Town, if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by and see us!