Vermicomposting Take 2

A few months ago, I was so excited to bring you my new adventure in composting with worms, aka vermicomposting. I told you I'd bring you an update on how to get the compost from the worms and increase your worm population....

Today was a gorgeous sunny day so we took advantage of the sun and went outdoors - with our worm bin.

We dumped the composted material and worms onto a black garbage bag and let them dig for cover. It quickly came apparent that they were working hard on reproducing because there were eggs everywhere! Not wanting to distrub the eggs and not wanting to loose the worms to the garden, I had DH make a new composting bin for me.

Digging for worms!

In that new bigger bin, I put new newspaper and some coffee grounds. These went on side of the bin. On the other side of the bin, 75% of the compost and worms. They will gradually move to the clean side and start feeding and living. The babies will hatch and move to the food, too. Then, I will be able to easily scoop up the vacated compost on the one side of the bin to use for my garden starts!!!

In my original little bin, I put the 25% compost and worms, along with new bedding, same situation as above. This is my indoor bin. I will now work on growing this population, just like I did before.

How many worms do I have? Thousands!!! I couldn't scoop one handful of compost without there being several worms in it. They are all over... and it was beautiful.

And, I think I may have found a way to get my niece to stop biting her fingernails. She had no idea that the "dirt" was actually worm poop!!! Once she found out, she hasn't bit her nails since. Next time I see her with her fingers in her mouth - "to the compost bin, you go!"

My Baby is 2!

Cuanto anos tienes?

reply: dos! holding up each pointer finger, sometimes with chocolate!

Two Years ago today our sweet little Javier Don was born! Because his birth was my dream come true, I told you all about, whether you wanted to hear it or not! And again, because his birth brings back so many good memories, you can read about it again - ha!

And then my baby turned 1! and he wasn't even crawling in the traditional sense of the word. He was so cute! Just like his Moma.

And only parents of a one year old think something like this is cute.

And then we come to today. Sniff sniff. Javi did learn to crawl. And walk. And run. And talk... well kinda. He knows exactly what he's saying, I'll have you know. And occasionaly, we do to! Especially the words: mine, no, uh-oh, family names, woof for Zorro, agua for anything to drink, bye bye, adios and he loves to blow kisses when he says, go! All in all I think he's around 30-40 words when you add English, Spanish and ASL.

We're not celebrating the little guy's birthday til the 17th but we'll do a little something for him today. I just can't believe that my baby is two. Two and self-weaned for months, walking, talking and learning to go pee pee in the potty. Oh my.

God's Protection

I read Proverbs 2 today and what really stood out to me was verses 8-11:

8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

So I thought back on all the times that I could remember OFF-HAND when God's Hand of protection was over and around me and immediatley got teary - for He is with me; always.

I was curious then, as I tend to get and wondered what The Message said:
6-8 And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones. 9-15 So now you can pick out what's true and fair, find all the good trails! Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, Insight will keep an eye out for you.They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad directions Of those who are lost themselves and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed, These losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity, Traveling paths that go nowhere, wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

Personal Bodyguard??? Wow! That's protection! Wisdom given out free? Cool! It's doesn't get better than that, does it? Oh yes.... He keeps his eye on me. Pays special attention to me. He's my Bodyguard!!!

The Good News is here, for all. He'll be your bodyguard, too. What stands out to you in these verses? I think of verse 16 when I think of my college boys and pray for their safety against those who may lead people astray....

Happy Friday to you! I do believe I shall have a great weekend! Enjoy.

What is Sabbath?

Roy and I have been challenged by many sources to really look at our Sabbath and together with the Lord set aside that time for Him. We've tried several things and here is a bit of our journey:

What does the word Sabbath mean? Webster says, "A season or day of rest." 2. "A time of rest or repose; intermission of pain, effort, sorrow, or the like."

Sabbath is 1 out of 7 units in time where one rests and worships the Lord. Can I just say that our Sunday is full of worship but no rest? We are on the go and not even home, from the morning when we leave for church to 7:30-8:00 at night when we get home from church! Yes, most of this is choice (okay, all is I guess...) we are involved in our morning English services and then we have our traditional dinner at my parent's home, then I have worship practice for the Spanish service - then Spanish service. Then Youth Group immediatley following... then supper with the Spanish congregation at church - finally, I collapse in my bed with my feet killing me on Sunday night.

Just typing it makes me tired. Amazingly, though, God gives me the energy and desire to keep going and doing His will. And it's wonderful. I am trying to listen for the whisper that will come so I don't burn out. And I have a very supportive family who helps with my children and a great hubby who is by my side the whole time.

This to say - Sunday's are not a day of rest. We are leading worship -not basking in his goodness and grace as children of the King. So, here we are, looking to set aside time for Him.

1/7 units in time to God. I am familiar with this concept from working at the college and having faculty go "on Sabbatical." It was a longed for time and a time not to be taken lightly, either. Plans and ideas were set in place long before their Sabbatical started.

This got me to thinking that I ought to plan and be prepared for my Sabbatical. Whether I set aside 1 hour out of every 7 hours, 1 day out of 7, 1 week out of 7 weeks, 1 month out of 7 months or 1 year out of 7 years, I should be prepared and excited! I should anticipate it's coming with passion and hope!

Sadly, I don't. I haven't. Thankfully, my God is one of forgiveness and second chances and so I am re-evaluating my Sabbatical and making plans so that I, too, long for the Sabbath to come.

I am trying to set aside one day a week, apart from Sunday, to be my Sabbath. What is hard is trying to coordinate this day with Roy. Today we are able to designate the morning and early afternoon to God. Come late afternoon and evening, though, we are on the go and Roy has some work that needs done in the office.... life, I guess.

So, how do you incorporate life into your Sabbath? If we set Sunday aside as our Holy Day - in the presence of God and His family, what does our private time look like?

So far, I have prayed, read scripture and journaled. I had a cup of coffee with my Mom. I had couple time with Roy and bonding time with Javier. And now I write thoughts and questions here.

This thought process leads me to think about Queries 1 and 2:

Query 1. Do you live in vital relationship with God, trusting in Jesus Christ as your saving Lord and obeying the leadings of the Holy Spirit? Is Christ’s presence evident in your life?

Query 2. Do you cultivate your spiritual growth through prayer and Bible reading and through attendance at meetings for worship and study? Are you finding joy in the Lord?

For me these two go hand in hand, as do most queries. I need to listen to all of His commands, including setting time apart to be with Him. If Christ's presence is going to be evident in my life, I have to spend time with Him! And that happens through cultivating my spiritual growth through prayer and Bible reading. Through spending time with fellow Believers and finally, finding joy in the Lord.

It's a process, I know. But I have to start somewhere. I have to start sometime. Why not now?

Do you set aside another time, other than Sunday to rest and worship?