Flower-Planting, Welcoming Buddy, Meals

Pink and purple petunias, deep blue lobelia, purple alyssum, pink and purple verbena, purple osteospermum (previously known to me as African Queen), and ageratum. All my favorite colors, with the exception of a couple of whites and yellows that were mixed into the multi-packs.

These are the 6 varieties of flowers I planted today to fill out and spruce up my rock garden. I planted about 60 tiny little plants, mostly blooming already. I especially picked them to be blooming already because I am only here another month before leaving for a month's holiday, and I want to enjoy them now. I find it so much more encouraging to stand back from three hours' gardening and see a colorful show than just some little green stubs.

Today I received the name of the new family I am supposed to be the "Welcoming Buddy" for at our new school for the coming year...and contacted the mom to find out that they've been living in England already for eight years - I should be the one asking her the questions! Well, at least maybe I can help with some directly school-related issues. They will have an 8th-grade boy in September, and so will we, so that works out well. I look forward to meeting them.

This week I made Chocolate Chip Pecan Zucchini Bread, and it was a hit. Come to think of it, dinners this week have gone over well, too: crêpes (main course and dessert); Scallops Elegante with rice; and creamy ham and potato gratin, with salad.

Even though I am personally so not a mega-church kind of gal, I enjoy several mega-church bloggers (I also enjoy house church bloggers - I am eclectic in my tastes). Another encouraging quote from Charlotte, NC pastor Steven Furtick:

The best is always forthcoming as I follow Christ in faith.

If you are stuck in a portal of uncertainty right now, be encouraged.
God’s calling on your life has not diminished.
Jesus has gone before you and prepared a future of blessing and impact.