Three-Day Weekends Rock!

Like many of you, I spent the long Memorial Day weekend mixing home projects with relaxation and fun. My conclusion? Three-day weekends rock! What do you say we lobby for standard three-day weekends? Who's with me?!

Number One on my to-do list was weeding, trimming, and mulching the front yard landscape. Three summers ago we gutted the front yard bed -- which wasn't too difficult since all of the bushes were dead and practically walked themselves out of the dirt -- and hired our nephew to plant an ornamental tree, flowering perennials, and a few shrubs. I was told the plants would develop on a three-year cycle:

First Summer

I'd notice little to no growth and the plants would look the same at the end of the summer as they did when first planted. That's exactly what happened.

Second Summer

I'd see little improvement over the First Summer. In fact, I might wonder if my plants were permanently stunted. But not to worry! The Second Summer is when all my little green darlings would solidly establish themselves underground, girding themselves for a spectacular showing next year. Since I didn't have an underground window, I can't verify these activities took place, but I'm assuming they did because...

Third Summer

Ta da! As you can see, my daisies, hostas (even after a severe thinning), and their friends are healthy, robust, and heavy with buds. I bubble up with joy when pulling up to our suburban homestead and

seeing their flora faces.

                             Sunny, yellow flowers make me smile!

    

                              To quote Meg Ryan in  You've Got Mail,

                                  "Daisies are the friendliest flowers."

"Think on This..."

For 30 years, psychologist Dr. Diane Langberg has counseled trauma victims, especially childhood sexual abuse survivors. During last Monday's show (May 21), a caller shared her survivor story, including the ongoing sense of dirtiness that continues to haunt her. She obsessively cleans her home, but it's never enough to wash away the filth she feels. Dr. Langberg gave this helpful analogy. She said sometimes we dirty ourselves with our choices and actions. But there are times when others dump their dirt on us -- and we are not guilty, nor responsible for it! This dear caller's dirt wasn't hers, it was her abuser's. Amen!

Liven up a conversation with these facts:

1.  It's not the most appetizing info, but it's good to know. Germs like staph, strep, and E. Coli were found on 100% of the makeup testers sampled on weekends in department stores and drugstores in a study by Rowan University. "Anytime bacteria gets close to your eyes, nose, or mouth, you put yourself at risk for catching a cold, herpes, strep throat, a GI infection, or other viruses," says study author Dr. Elizabeth Brooks. Next time you want to sample makeup before buying it, test it on your wrist where there's no entry to your bloodstream. (Women's Health, June 2012)

2. News flash: watermelon seeds are edible. Toast them with a sprinkle of your favorite spices and nibble away for a healthy hit of fiber, protein, and magnesium. (Better Homes and Garden, June 2012)

3. Sunglasses that don't block 99% to 100% of UV light are worse than no glasses at all! Why? The dark lenses make your pupils dilate, allowing even more light in. Buy sunglasses that specify 99% to 100% UV protection. Take sunglasses you already own to an optician; most will check the level of protection for you, free of charge. (Health, June 2012)

Ephesians 3:7 is my food this week:

"By God's special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving Him by spreading this Good News."

Let it fuel you, too, as you spread the Good News while living your life this week.