This is just a cute story I read awhile back and came across it again today while I was helping my mom.


The Garden - by Douglas Wilson

As my horse trotted wearily up the road, I could see the walls of a beautiful garden ahead. Outside the gate was an equally beautiful woman. At the sound of my greeting, she turned and dropped a curtsey. "Good sir... good morning."

I looked at her, and then at the garden walls extending out to the right and left. Behind her was the garden gate. I said, "I am very thirsty...for something clean." She smiled, and her smile made me thirstier still. But she said nothing. "Is there water here?" I asked.

"There is a stream within my garden." Her statement was simply a statement of fact; there was no invitation at all in it.

I asked, "May I come in and drink?"

"No," she said. "The lord of my mother's garden does not permit that."

"Why is this? Other women have let me drink from the gardens that they tend." I glanced at the fruit-laden branches, which were visible over the top of the garden wall. "You have a lovely garden, but those who let me drink had gardens just as beautiful."

She laughed at this, and her laugh was merry indeed. "I have no doubt that you have been in some lovely gardens. But was the water clean?"

"No," I said, and in spite of myself, turned my head and looked down.

She continued with a question. "Is that why you are no longer in the gardens tended by these women?"

I was ashamed so I did not answer her. Instead I looked past her into the garden. The path through the gate disappeared after a few feet, leaving the view of anyone on the road. "It seems like a shame for such a garden to go to waste."

She seemed both puzzled and amused. "How does it go to waste?"

"Does any man drink from your stream?"

"No, but no man fouls it either."

"But is that not a waste? Was not your stream made to quench the thirst of travelers?"

"I'm afraid you are seriously mistaken. It was made to quench the thirst, not of travelers, but of the lord of the garden."

"Oh," I said, "this garden has a lord?"

"No," she said.

"Then I don't understand. Are you speaking in riddles?"

She smiled. "No, I do not. The garden will one day have a lord, although it does not yet. The stream is for him alone."

"And who will your lord be?"

"When my mother's lord gives a blessing, the one whom I appoint."

"How can the lesser appoint the greater?"

"How can it not be so? When my lord comes, I will grant to him my garden. But until I do, he is just another traveler."

"And what do you look for? I am sure there are many who knock at your gate."

At this she blushed slightly but looked straight at me. "I will not have a lord who does not have a lord himself--my lord must have taken an oath of fealty to the Landlord."

"The Landlord? Who is he?"

"He is the owner of all the gardens along this road. In order to come into my garden, my lord must take an oath before the Landlord to tend the garden well. He must also swear that he will enter no other garden."I had never heard such words as these before. "How long must he stay out of other gardens?"

"Forever."

"But what if he is born to travel?"

"Then he is not born for my garden."

"I see," I said, becoming a little angry. "Then why have I never heard of such an oath? I have been in many gardens."

"Yes, you said that before. But was the water clean? Were the gardens tended? That is what happens when there is no oath."

"So that is all? If someone takes an oath before this Landlord, you will make them your Lord?"

"No."

"Well, what else then?"

"There are many men who think they can tend my garden well, and who would be willing to swear an oath before the Landlord saying so. But that does not mean that my mother's lord, or I, share their confidence."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I know the extent of the garden. I have a knowledge of it that cannot be gained from the road. But no man can share that knowledge until after I have made him my lord and husband. So I must have the measure of the man before."

"So what must a man do?"

"The first thing is to--"

"Yes, I know. He must swear to the Landlord. But after?"

"He must return to me, and ask to see my mother's lord."

"And what would he say?"

"That depends on the man."

At this parting comment, she turned and walked slowly back into the garden, pulling the gate closed behind her. I spurred my horse, which began to trot down the road. I did not know what to think, but I needed to find this Landlord.

Well I am offically not going to college group at my church till october. Oh well. I am to young. Man I really am glad I'm graduating early I just hate being "to young" My dad told me that there are always thorns on a rose and so this is my thorn. I have even been called jail bate now! haha I thought that was pretty funny. Thats me! I think I'm going to just go to college group at a differnt church where some of my other friends go. Anyways no more sad talk I don't wanna be upset I just need to get over it.

I just have to say that my friend Hannah is so funny!!! She makes me laugh so hard. here are some quotes of stuff she has said to me...
"Hannah you are a really messy eater. But that is ok cuz when you make a mess eating it just means you are having a lot of fun"
"That is kinda sketchy , but I think Hannah's like being sketchy so ya know what, I approve"
"I don't get it so lets just pretend likes it funny"
A really funny thing she does is acting getto (whatever that means I still don't know) and she trys to get me to do it also. She really knows how to make me laugh. When she was visiting I think I had a constant pain in my stomach from laughing so hard all the time. Like when I was making malto for our breakfast and she was making our peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I thought I had made enough peanut butter and honey for 3 half sandwichs but she made like 6 out of it!!! That is only because a put a LOT of peanut butter and honey in the sandwichs when I make them and she puts a normal amount in it. : )
Well I just did a whole post about nothing really...oh well.

The Civil War Ball...

Well here are some pictures from the civil war ball we went to a week or so ago. It is pretty crazy how many we have now that people are starting to realize they are fun!haha I have now I think been to six. And then I am going to another one in a couple months with the Macs in Crestline (I've gotta say that is a cool place with cool people)
anyways here are the pictures...

little Lydia on the way to the civil war ball...

Michael and Brittany

a picture from our little photo shoot before the dancing started

Southern belles
Kaleb and I waiting for the dance to start

Well tonight at youth group we were singing this one song and I really started to miss my little park that I used to walk to and do my devos at. I decided next clear day we have I will walk there again. I love sitting outside on the grass with the trees and blue sky as my ceiling. Even though I always seem to go when school is getting out and all the kids look at me funny, But hey I'm ok with that. That picture of a tree is one I took one time at the park.

I just finished reading 'The Great Divorce' It took me a long time to read it because I would read a chapter and then be like 'umm what did I just read' and then read it again. But I finished it. I really enjoyed reading it.


"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion." says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!""
Lamentations 3:22-24

I love the rain...today driving home from youth group I turned off my music so I could just hear the rain and I even rolled my window down cuz it feels amazing when the rain hits your hands. It's days like this I want to drink hot tea and read a book, well more like drink tea and make my civil war dress seeing as that is what I've been doing all day. But I am happy to say it is almost finished! It should be done tomorrow (hopefully).

I will leave you with a funny picture of me and Britt and 2 of our friends Chris and Kyle. We have known them pretty much forever, well since I was about 2 because that is when we have a video that says how my best friend is Christopher. Then they moved and now we only see them about once a year. It is pretty funny to look back and see how much we've changed.

"I believe in Christianty as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything" C.S. Lewis

"You can't love someone for what they stand for, who they seem to be, you have to love them for there detals, for the little things that are true to only them." Roselee Futch (with a date with Tad Hamilton)

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength" Corrie ten Boom

"God didn't call us to be successfull, just faithful." Mother Teresa

"There is no half singing in the shower you are either a rock star or opera diva" Josh Groban

Well today I went hankie shoping with some friends. We went to this awesome little, well actully it was pretty big, antique store that had tons of hankies in it. I got one white one with some lace on it and then another white one with a chicken on it! So it was random and I had to get it. Then I went crazy getting ready for our friends to come over for dinner. It was a fun and really busy day!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!!

Joanna Grace (aka Grumpy Gracie)

So Jo is pretty much the funnest little 4 year I know. Me and her are little buddies and we pretty much just mess around and laugh all day. Except for when she decided she doesn't like me. I have never met such a little drama queen in my life!!!

She always finds something exciting to do. Like using markers as lipstick or having me dress her up like a pirate and then she'll chase everyone around the house.

One of the things she loves to do is sing Josh Groban songs. And then her new thing she always tells me about is how she is going to marry my friend Josh.haha

Yeah she is a crazy little girl.

The other day me and my mom had to go to a meeting that was an hour away so and on the drive we talked about submission. yup. It is an amazing subject. It breaks me heart to see the way women are leaving behind God's will of women submiting to there husbands. I am actully reading a book right now called 'created to be his help meet' by Debbie Pearl. So maybe it is a book for married women but I mean come on why wait to get married and mess up and then read the book? I might as well learn now. I could pretty much write pages and pages about it but I won't, I will just say I am excited to submit to my husband someday and be his help meet and through that honor God. In Titus 2 it says "older women likewise...that they may admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love thier children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." I am so greatful that God has given me so many examples of Godly women.

Crepe party

I finaly learned how to make crepes! thanks to my great teacher Emma : ) A week or so ago my friends had a crepe party. it was pretty fun. me and Emma ended up pretty much making crepes for everyone and there were like 10 people there so making crepes for that many people takes a while.

in between making crepes for everyone me and emma found time to take pictures, lots of pictures but i'm only going to put a few cuz we took a ton!
There really were more people at this party it is just that me and Emma made the crepes so by the time we sat down there was no room left at the table they we all at. and we have this thing that whenever we see each other we take a million pictures together


this was probably the funnest picture we took all night. I don't know what we were thinking when we took it because we look like total dorks.

This is a list me and my friend made of everything I did for my first time in MN last summer.

Hannah's Fisrt time list:
-going to Minnesota
-going to Wisconsin
-tubing
-swiming near (almost in) a waterfall
-gotten a leach on the leg
-hiked tettegouche
-saw split rock lighthouse
-swam in lake superior-a "great lake!"
-worked at a camp (camp lebanon)
-went in a paddleboat
-saw a loon
-caught a fish
-took a fish off the hook
-got a hook stuck in finger
-went to a twins game at the metrodome
-rode the MN lightrail
-went to the mall of America
-gagged over cleaning bathrooms
-grew an irishman-'seamus'
-had sweet and sour meat balls with pinapple and rice
-ate fruit with ice cream
-watched National Treasure
-made carepacks
-ate rhybarb
-had crepes

A night out with the girls from youth group...

Royal Servants Ireland team 2004.

Yup the Ireland trip was pretty much amazing...

God is our Romancer. amazing thought. The God who made the universe and knows every star in the sky is in love with me and wants me to be totally and completly in love with Him. He wrote a whole book of letters just for us. I don't know maybe it is just me but I love that thought. it is so humbling. And you know what? I am totally in love with God. He is amazing. Like I can't even put into words how in love I am. Each and every day all that happens is I just fall more in love. Yup and that is pretty much all I have to say.

Beautiful Soldier
She's a beautiful soldier who
wears knee boots instead
of combat boots and has
never set foot in a desert.
If you passed her on the street,
you'd probably think
she doesn't have a problem
in the world.

(i didn't write that i actully just read it and thought it sounded really cool and like most christian girls living on this place called earth)

Galatians 5:13 'For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.'

What I think this verse means is that we are free but but since we are free we should serve each other, and not serve each other because we have to but out of love. Serving each other because we love them.

Last summer I went on a mission trip with royal servants and I fell in love with that group. So this summer I went back except I just went to training camp and went to serve. I also went to camp Lebanon in Upsala MN.

At the camps I did the behind the scens things that keep the camp runing. I did odd jobs such as cleaning bathrooms, washing tarps and seting up and taking down tents. But my most important job was encourgment. At the royal servants training camp part of our 'job' was to encourge the students, staff and leaders who were going over seas. The team I was on was made up of alumni and the name of our team was Barnabas which means 'Son of encougment'. Some of the ways we encourged was that every night we did a prayer walk and we wrote letters to the team leaders.

Through out the hours spent cleaning bathrooms and days spent standing in the hot sun some of the things God taught me were...

That is it so important to keep encourging your brothers and sisters in there walk with Christ, Satan is constantly trying to bring us down in our walk with Christ even though we don't always see it we always need to be praying not only for ourselves but for those around us, And then through how utterly tired I got I was reminded that we need to give everday to God and rely on Him to give us the strenght we need to make it through each day.

Being at royal servant training camp and not on a team I was able to see the ways God worked in the big things like the teams getting the support money they needed to go over seas to the small things like we counted the passport holders and came up 6 short and then I was sorting through the blue bags and opened up a zipper pouch and there were 6 passport holders in it.

As you see I didn't go over seas this summer but that isn't the only place we are needed. God can use you right here in the USA to do work for Him and further His kingdom. You just need to be open to His calling and ready for the moments He gives you.

God has been more then faithful this summer. He helped me make it through every day when I felt like that last bit of strength was gone. And I just want to thank you all for the prayers and letters I got while I was gone. It is so engouging to know that you all support me and what I feel called to do.




On sunday evening a couple weeks ago me and some of the other high schoolers who went on mission trips this summer and camps all talked about what we did/learned over the summer. So that is what I said (well not like word for word seeing as I didn't read it or memorize it or anything like that).

-For Good- Wicked (the musical)

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the thing I've done you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good.

my girls that I did book time with. I miss all the girls so much, I can't wait till next school year!!!

the 3rd and 4th grade girls awana group i worked with over the last school year.

this is what happens when the youth from church go out to dessert together! haha