What Do Ray-Bans, Watermelon, Paint and My Salvation All Have In Common, You Ask?

They were FREE! 

 

One evening in Ocean City, New Jersey while my mom and son, Nicolas, were walking on the beach with the metal detector, they came across a pair of sunglasses. Covered in sand and sea scum, they looked like something worth throwing away, so into the bucket they went with the intention of disposing them once back at the house. Well, for whatever reason, once they returned home, they decided to rinse them off to see what was what. Girls, they just so happen to be the very nice pair of $200-ish Ray-Ban vintage lens aviators that now happily reside on my face whenever the sun is shining bright. They are the BEST sunglasses I've ever owned - no squinting! Yay! :) It just goes to show you that we should always look a little deeper. Sometimes what first may appear like garbage could really be treasure lying underneath. I mean that literally and figuratively!

Thank you Mom and Nic! I adore my little beach treasures - and the treasure that I have in both of you as well. :)

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My favorite little farm stand is having a special going on this week - mention "Facebook" while shopping at Renninger's Farm and they'll give you a FREE sangria watermelon (while supplies last)! We picked ours up on Thursday and we have loved on it a little bit already. Typically $5 but this week FREE. Check out their Facebook page for details.

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Last year, my husband was doing a window job for a Benjamin Moore store going out of business and they asked us to please take some paint off of their hands...oh really? No problem!  A few minutes later, we had 9 gallons of FREE paint in our trunk. Hello...score! :) 

Currently, one gallon of our FREE paint (in the color Sedona Clay) is being used on this "beaut":

I bought this dresser last year at a yard sale for $25 (the black spray paint came later thanks to one of my lovely yet somewhat destructive children). I had always planned on putting it at the bottom of our bed but recently I changed my mind and now it's going in our living room in place of our entertainment armoire. Cannot wait to get that beast out of our living room and replace it with this beauty...or at least, I think it'll be a beauty when it's done? Not gonna lie, I'm kinda nervous about it. BUT...with the right color, new knobs and new feet, I'm kinda thinkin' she might be a winner. Stay tuned to find out!

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Last, but definitely not least, on my list is my salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

 gift (noun)
Something bestowed freely. 

Now, here is where I tie it all together...(thanks for being patient with me...)

I had no problem accepting those sunglasses as a free gift. I had no problem accepting that watermelon as a free gift. I had no problem accepting that paint as a free gift. So why, so often, do I have a hard time truly accepting my salvation as a free gift? Even just today, I prayed, "Father, please forgive my unbelief (to be read, lack of faith)!". The Bible says that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains (Matthew 17:20) so I guess faith isn't as easy for us as it should be. My heart believes...I know it does...I can feel the Holy Spirit's convictions often to prove it. But my head...my head has such a hard time wrapping around the knowledge that an all powerful God who always was and always will be...Creator of Heaven and Earth sent His Son to die a cruel death on a cross for...me? 

I feel like I can never live up to that and very often frustrate myself with that knowledge. Feeling very unworthy because I am. I can NEVER be worthy. I will NEVER be worthy. 

But listen...I did NOTHING to deserve those sunglasses either...did NOTHING to deserve that watermelon...did NOTHING to deserve that paint...and I can do NOTHING to deserve my salvation.

All I can do is reach out and take it. Trusting in Him that He speaks Truth in His Holy Word. 

There is nothing you nor I can do to ever deserve His free gift of salvation. Just take it. HE is yours for the asking. 

Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

How about you? Will YOU accept His FREE GIFT today? 

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I'm linking up with Lindsay over at Hello Hue for the first time this weekend!

It truly is all about the little things! 

Who says nothing in life is free? :)

Kiss the Cook: Fresh Peach Cobbler

Peaches are my all-time favorite summer fruit and the little farm about a 1/2 mile from my parents house has got to have the best. When the peaches are ripe, they are the kind of food that when you take a bite, your eyes close involuntarily, you get a big smile and a little sigh escapes your mouth from sheer pleasure.

The smell...texture...flavor...ahhhhh...it's just out.of.this.world.

In a nutshell? Yum.

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If you happen to live in our area and you have not yet tried Renninger's peaches, may I please suggest that you make a trip soon?

As in...get on it. Mean it.

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Now, I understand, some of you may not be "fruit people"...but guaranteed you've got to be "dessert people" so let me recommend this recipe for ya'll.

We all know that Paula Deen likes butter but while this does have a little butter in it, it's really all about the peaches.

And, Girls, t'is the season to rock the peaches...

Fresh Peach Cobbler
(original recipe found HERE)

Ingredients:

• 4 cups peeled sliced peaches
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine peaches, 1 cup of the sugar and water in a saucepan and mix well
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes
4. Remove from the heat
5. Place butter in a deep baking dish (9 x 13) and put in the oven to melt
6. Mix remaining cup of sugar, flour and milk slowly to prevent clumping
7. Pour mixture over melted butter
8. DO NOT STIR!
9. Spoon fruit over top, gently pouring in syrup
10. Batter will rise to the top during baking
11. Bake for 30-45 minutes (I baked mine closer to 45)

This recipe is Mommy Approved with simple ingredients and easy directions.

(It's also Daddy Approved and Kiddo Approved because it's so darn goooood.) 

If you're wondering, I served mine up to my family nice and warm with a side of Turkey Hill Original Vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon on top.

Mmmmmmmmm...

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If you haven't already been there, let me know if you check out Renninger's Farm and try their peaches. I promise that you will not be sorry! (P.S. They also have awesome SWEET CORN and tomatoes. And don't forget to visit the chickens, pigs, cows and rabbit named Jack while you're there!)

"You know when a peach is absolutely perfect... it's sublime. I'd like to capture that and then use it in a dessert. "

Kathy Mattea

life is a gift. take care of it.

Me: Excuse me, how much is the beautiful bright pink zinnia you have in the back there?
Farmer: Ehhhh...five bucks.
Me: (jaw drop) Really?! that is CHEAP!
Farmer: Well, they brought them in this morning and they don't have prices on them yet so...five bucks it is. (smile)
Me: Wow, well, thank you! (went in the back to pick up my prize)
Farmer: Just think of it this way, now you'll be going home with something you didn't think you would be. (little did he know...)

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Girrrrrrls, I was just tickled pink to have that beautiful plant sitting on the floor next to me on my drive home that evening...

The thing is, that plant was clearly set to sell for $15 at least...it's huge and the blooms are plentiful and gor.geous.

And that farmer...he knew just what he was doing. He was making my day. On purpose.

To him, being kind meant far more to him than making an additional $10.

To me, even though i did pay $5 for it, it still felt like a gift.

And, Girls, it's really not even about the flowers.

Yes, they are brilliant and I love them but honestly, the gift was so much more than that.

It was a gift that reminded me that there is still good in the world. There are still people who value goodness, kindness and generosity.

I smiled all the way home that day and honestly, even cried at one point because I was so darn touched. That farmer has no idea of the effect he had on my life that day. It was a simple gesture but he renewed a faith in me that had been in the process of dying.

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God spoke to me through a farmer.

Now I have pretty bright pink faces to water once or twice a day. Who knew zinnias needed so much care?! They are thirsty little buggers!

If I miss a morning watering, they show me they're unhappy by shriveling up and looking mighty sad.

This gift requires work to keep them looking their best.

I know this may be a stretch to some...but I'm gonna put it out there anyway.

Life is a gift. God gave us this crazy beautiful life for FREE and our job is to take care of it.

I don't know about you but there have been A LOT of days in my life that I've looked quite shriveled up and sad (sure physically but also spiritually, emotionally and mentally!).


It is not a life that shows that I am taking the best care of God's precious gift to me!

I definitely need a daily drink of the everlasting water of His Word if I am to reflect Him and His glory.

My pastor's Sunday sermon spoke on "making Jesus look good" -  I can't help but think that some of us are looking kinda like a shriveled up plant to people in this world.

Dull and lifeless.

I am not even sure that anyone would want a plant like that for FREE let alone pay for one.

Wouldn't we better reflect Jesus and this precious gift of life he's given us if we chose to keep ourselves watered in the Word?

Let's be the brightest blooms we can be FOR HIM.

Drink up.

John 4:14

...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."