An Idea for the Perfect Bridal Shower Gift

Foreword:
I didn't intend this to be a brag post. Just wanted to share a cool discovery. Actually, wrote this with you in mind, Jessica. It seemed like something right up your alley. Enjoy. :)

The Official Beginning:
Buying gifts is one of The Most Fun Things To Do. But it can get complicated; especially when it's for a bridal shower that doesn't have a registry, and you're worrying about the girl getting doubles of every gift. So we came up with an ingenious idea. It's so unique that there was no possible way that anyone else would think of it. After all, who thinks of giving a future bride a toilet brush?


Packaged up like this in a handy bucket, who wouldn't think of giving a future bride a toilet brush, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner spray, paper towels, toilet bowl cleaner, all-purpose wipes, scrubbing sponges, and microfibre cloths? It's a kit of supplies that every girl will use (let's hope, for pity's sake).



Tying a microfibre cloth around the handle, sticking a couple of the same in the sides at odd places, and rolling or folding up the rest and nestling them in the cracks gives the whole thing a cute, gifty look. The cleaning detergents and sprays were people- and eco-friendly, which seemed to give it a more original flavour than just using Glass-Plus and Pine-Sol.

Let's hope that some meddling entrepreneur doesn't happen on this blog and start flooding the marketplace with the bloomin' things. If that happens, wave goodbye to originality. It's back to--ugh--gift cards.

Inspired,
Jenn

P.S.
How's this for a neat thought: when we are being creative and resourceful, we're being like God, and we actually glorify Him by developing those characteristics in our lives. After all, He is our creative Creator--just take a look at the Venus Fly-Trap, or a hippo's teeth, or your bruised elbow that healed perfectly!

A Little Bit of British Humour...

Hope all our American friends are able to get this! Lol! Love you. ;)

Another One of Those Random Posts that You See When Its Crazy-Busy

Hard-working lassie

... or at least shes doing a good job pretending. ;P

Shining morning faces

Hafta plant ... all ... these ...

Looks like a cemetery.

Hope it doesnt become one, since I planted some of them .

Here lies Herb.

R.I.P.

Hoping that Im not the only laughing at my over-sensitive sense of humour*,

Jenn

*anything can trigger it off. :D

Thumbs up for the greenhouse

Yeah girl, get some dirt under them fingernails...

That should be a song. :)

The other day, Sarah and I were marvelling at how many chances God has given us to witness at work this year. From little things, like praising God for strength, to bigger things, like finding out where people stand, and building foundations. One woman literally witnessed to Sarah, and well! That kicked things off nicely.

I've started praying for each person that I work with through the day, that God would help me to be a blessing to them. Now, when I'm working, I wonder, "God, what are You going to do today? I can't wait to find out."

Reminds me of the verse, "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." I can imagine what a difference God could make for them. And just think: if my limited human imagination can visualize what God could do, then what could God REALLY do, according to Jeremiah 33:3... Wow. God, help us to be faithful, to make You look good. So good, that they would long for You to be in their lives, as well.

Looking forward to tomorrow, :)

Jenn

Jenn: My Sister ~ My Friend

Jenn couldn't wait to wear her green sandles and necklace for spring, so on St. Patrick's Day, it actually got up to about 50 F, and she grabbed the opportunity. I was so thrilled about how pretty she looked that I took an impromtu photo shoot. That's MY sis.

I love you, Jenn.

"Trust Me."

Seems like that's all I'm getting from God lately. It's so easy to read in the Bible, to tell others, to write in a blog post. Doing it right now is hard; like I have to wrench trust out of myself. Why should it be so difficult? Considering the countless times that God has proven Himself trustworthy. And considering the countless times when I've tried to fix situations and things with my own incapable hands, and trainwrecked big-time. Will I ever learn?

God is so gentle and patient. He's constantly sending me reminders. Proverbs 3 is a familiar one: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him," then the awesome promise, "and He shall direct thy paths." "For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

Unaware, Mum directed me to Isaiah 30 this morning, God bless her. "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me ... That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion ... Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still." So goes against human nature. At least for me. It reminded me of a song. The only part that I can remember right now is:

"When the enemy surrounds you, and the walls are closing in,
When the tide is swiftly rising, and you wonder where He's been;
Friend, there never was a moment when His arms weren't reaching out.
You can rest assured, and be secure, that God is moving RIGHT NOW." (wow!)

"Stand still, and let God move.
Standing still is hard to do.
When you feel that you have reached the end, He'll make a way for you.
Stand still, and let God move."

Anyways, back to Isaiah. :) "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift." The very things that Israel relied on would prove to be their downfall. Basically, the course of action that made sense to them was the dumbest thing that they could've possibly done.

Further on, "Blessed are all they that wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shallt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee. " Wow! God as my own personal SuperHero! How unfathomably cool is that?

"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way; walk ye in it: when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold ... THEN shall He give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous." When they turned back to God, and forsook the things that they trusted in before, God blessed them.

So. To trust, to really trust in God is to cling to Him fully, to throw my whole weight onto Him. Not hanging onto Him with one hand and dangling from what-makes-sense-to-put-my-trust-in with the other hand. It is to look back on past circumstances where He has gloriously ridden in at the perfect moment--not early, but never late-- and done something so amazing that I could've never imagined it. (1 Cor. 2:9; Jer. 33:2-3) It is to have faith in Him and His promises, even when everything seems to point in the opposite direction.

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about." And because of that, "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous! And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart!" :D

Hope this helps you like it helped me.

Encouraged,
Jenn

Rambling through Sherriff Hutton counrtyside

After touring York, Sally had errands to run, so John and Liz took us back to Sherriff Hutton to see some of Dad's old haunts. We started at Park Farm (John's home) and walked cross-country.

Some of Uncle Dave's cows ~ LOVE this photo! John, Liz and Sarah heading out Jenn looking for pictures Liz squeezing through a gate Sadly deserted farm buildings

Desolate estate with so much potential

Family History

St. Helen and the Church of the Holy Cross ~ Church of England

Molly investigating

Looking into the church. I loved wandering around looking at the old burial vaults and enclosed pews. They had a special table for the upcoming Harvest Festival. We had to keep an eye on Molly to make sure she didn't get hungry. :)

With Molly by the church gate.

Note the small swinging gate.

Castle ruins in the background

The Post Office that Grandpa used to own and operate

A closer look

Jenn, Liz and Sarah with Molly being uncooperative

Liz, Sarah and John

Castle ruins that Dad used to climb as a boy

Sarah recrossing the fields

Jenn enjoying her ramble

Jenn climbing a stile

Park Farm from the back

Mike, Uncle Dave's brother

getting out of his work clothes

Aunt Margaret and Uncle Bryan.

After our ramble about the countryside, we checked out John's new lodgings then went back to their house for a cup of tea. I felt so comfortable in their cozy living room as we all chattered.

Jenn, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Bryan and Sarah

Uncle Dave, John and Aunt Sheila

when they took us out for Fish 'n' Chips at Thompson's. http://www.thompsonsfishrestaurants.com/

Wonderful fish and HUGE servings!

Uncle Dave fiddling with his lollipop

Jenn, Sarah, Uncle Dave and Aunt Sheila

I'm sure you've noticed the other person fiddling with the lollipop. :D

We had a lovely evening; it just didn't last long enough.