Garden Goddess

This is Zoe, the new addition to the greenhouse family and who I've affectionately dubbed, Garden Goddess.
She just showed up at the greenhouse one day so the guys adopted her. Even took her to the vet to get "fixed" and a check-up. She's such a friendly girl, although not a huge fan of the dog, Barney, who is very jealous of any attention Zoe gets.

Zoe is a natural hunter. Before the arbor grew and started blooming out, Zoe found her way up there to lay in wait for the sparrows. She did great getting up there, not so hot getting down. She's shown her love for the greenhouse owners by bringing them dead things already. I found a mouse one day, then a mole another. When I discovered that, Steve and I hi-fived! She's a moler! That's an asset!

On the flip side is my boy...he's border-line special needs. Either that, or a pacifist. He's "caught" a mouse three times now. And each time he just plays with them and let's them go. Bugs? He'll kill and eat those. But how can you resist this face when he's looking to be loved-on?

Being all Fragmenty

} What am I doing lately? More work than ever - and not reporting to an employer. Amazing, really. Plus, I've made it a point not to be on the computer all day every day. So that cuts my blogging time a lot. HOWEVER, my yard's getting in shape, my house is getting in order, and my life is changing. Will I ever get back to blogging regular? Yep! Looking forward to it actually! So be prepared....

} I've been doing some great life/success coaching lately. It's awesome to see lives tranformed right beore my eyes.

} FINALLY got to see The Blind Side. But it was AFTER I got to attend the Desire to Inspire series at Northside featuring the Tuohy's. Leanne Tuohy is amazing. She's definitely on my "Board of Directors."

} Today is a gorgeous day - lots of outside potential activity. It's also Oaks Day in this area. Almost a national holiday for Louisville. It's the locals Derby Day. But is it really all about the horses? I don't think so. The hats get just as much attention as the horses do. And there are some wild and crazy things out there! Here's just one site that has lots of Women's beautiful Derby hat options: Hats in the Belfry.

} Well, not a long list today. Just a quick fragment of life for Friday! Off to do something outside while it's not raining! Thanks for stopping by!

Love these Friday Fragments! For more - go see Mrs.4444 @ Half-Past Kissin' Time:

Yard Transformations

Since the weather has been extremely cooperative these past couple of weeks, I've decided to get my butt-in-gear with getting my yard updated. The overall goal is to get everything done that needs to be done before May, then maintain the rest of the Summer. That's not too much to ask, really. But it is a lot to do.

Yesterday (Monday) Bill and I loaded up, brought home, and unloaded over 30 decorative concrete blocks I bought at auction Sunday. Then we proceeded to take down a couple of pieces that are just not lovely to make it clear for the backhoe to get in there next week. It's going to make a level spot to put the pavers back in for a sitting area. Christy's Retreat is now more than a dream.

Today (Tuesday), I spent time this morning cleaning up my walkway. I went with mulch on the left (sunny) side last year only to discover the wind velocity around my house carries off mulch. I didn't like the concept of having to re-mulch every year anyway. So rock it is. Got a ton of rock (literally) at Earth First for roughly $15! So I pulled weeds, replaced plastic to hinder the weeds, shoveled rock on-top along the way, and placed low planters in-between the liriope for wave annuals. I can't wait to get that color placed in there!

Then I went and worked at the greenhouse again. It's so much fun! And I have a new friend that loves to share! I have some new additions to put in my other areas that I'll show later. And I shared a couple of hosta plants with her. We just get all giggly with pretty plants and getting new ones to share. And it's just amazing all the colors at the greenhouse! EVERY color - blue, purples, reds, yellows, oranges, green of course, but there's so much creativity in creation. Go figure! I love that I'm made in God's Image - He's creative and so am I!

After all this, I got to go to one of my small group studies. It was a true Jesus moment in our Christian lives. Love you guys! Then came home to listen to a life coaching training call. I truly enjoyed it. Took two pages of notes. Now I've just been using all that anabolic (postive high) energy jammin' loudly to some great music. I think Dierks Bentley could sing to me any moment of any day and I could melt.

What's Dancing With The Stars?

Am I the ONLY person who doesn't keep up with Dancing With The Stars? I actually had a couple extra hours this evening and decided to post something on my blog. I turn on the and notice on the guide that Dancing is on. I like the show, don't get me wrong. But I just don't keep up. I just have no interest in Kate - she looks worn out on the cover of the tabloids, so I'm guessing it's rough and there's drama. Plus, I can keep up through Rebecca's blog. :-)

I also don't keep up with American Idol or Survivor or The Amazing Race or Big Brother or any other "reality" show. Not sure why, maybe it's because I get easily annoyed. Maybe it's because I do much to keep up with a TV show regularly. Maybe I just don't like reality shows. That's makes me a minority lately. Nothing new about that!

HOWEVER. I LOVE to watch the dancing portion of "Dancing." I love the creativity, the expression, the passion that comes out. Love it. I would love to dance like that myself. (Especially if the guy would be as gorgeous as Max).

So for all of you who watch the reality shows, I'm glad you have something you enjoy. It's just not my favorite thing to keep up with. Although....now that I'm a life coach maybe I SHOULD be keeping up with them. I could get some dandy ideas of questions to be asking. Like for Kate, how different would your life look if you never had kids? (She just might not be a "reality star). Or Kate, how do you want your life to look when the kids are having kids? Or Simon, how would your life look in a year if everything you did had a positive result? Oh, wait, I already know the answer to that - money-making-marketing genius Simon will still be successful and tellin' it like it is.

SUPER START at SuperStart!

I'm at my first ever SuperStart! It's a conference for 4th, 5th and 6th graders (4th & 5th grade for our group), that teaches about God in engaging entertaining ways. We have 9 kids and 7 adults - good ratio. The music is awesome, and we've been having a great time! ALL the kids are getting into it, having good conversations. I have just discovered that I'll be a pastor living in a mansion driving a Jeep Wrangler, have two kids, not married the guy I want, but hey...that's why there's mansion. Ever play the MASH game? I just did... Night all!

Dumping our cares

From the Billy Graham devotional daily calendar:

I've been told that the French translation of this phrase, "Cast all your care upon Him" is "Unload your distresses upon God." Have you ever seen a dump truck get rid of its load? The driver simply pushes a button or pulls on a lever and the heavy load is discharged at the prescribed spot.... We we never meant to be crushed under the weight of care.... Unload the anxieties of the present moment upon Him, for He cares for you. If He loved you enough to take away the burden of your sins, can't you trust Him to take away every lesser burden as well?

Personal Vision Board

When I went to Denver to start my life coach training, I had some friends suggest that I do a vision board for the book I'm writing. Great idea! So I took it one step further - a personal vision board. This was so much fun, and a little hard. I had to know myself to come up with so many different images. But for anyone who wants a visual of who you are - put one of these together. It's been a great creative marketing/advertising method for years. I'm going to be doing one of these for all kinds of projects now! What would your vision board look like?

When the Master plays

Our pastor told an illustration today with his message that is sticking with me. It was about this master violin player that played in concert halls all across the world with his Stradivarius violin. One day he decided to do an experiment - he would play in the subway.

So he took is 1700s violin and went to play his top 4 famous songs in the Subway. The rush of people continued to pass by this violin player with his case open wide as if to beg for a dime. The children were amazed at the sounds, but pulled along by parents. No one stopped to listen. No one stopped to be amazed. No one stopped to hear the Master play the violin.

Just like Lynn's blog spot about Thunder, this is a great illustration of listening to God. I just never want to miss the opportunity to hear the Master. And I think I've been doing better with that in my life lately. So much that I just HAD to make a lasagna dinner for some wonderful people that are in the hospital with their baby girl, Emily.

I say HAD, because as some of you know, I'm on the Atkins diet - no lasagna for me. Well, I could, but I'd had to take out the lasagna. But have you ever had one of those days where you just KNEW you needed to do ______. That was Friday. I just KNEW I needed to take them a homecooked meal. And being the fantastic people they are loved it and was very appreciative. It was a total pleasure to do it for them. And I got to spend real time with them. It was awesome. And to hear all about their journey with Infantile Spasms, wow. I encourage you to check out Erica's blog. She's a great mommy with a huge heart and has this blog to share her experience and make connections with others going on similar paths.

Meet Coach Christy

I am so excited! Really. Words cannot truly express my excitement about my weekend I just experienced. All I can say is that I have found my niche. I was confirmed all weekend about choosing this new life path. What is it? Life Coaching.

What is a life coach? Well, we focus on solutions. Unlike therapists, we do not dwell on the client's past nor try to analyze behavior. We believe the client already has the answers, it's out job to help them discover it. We're motivators and encouragers. We're accountability partners. We help you get to where you want to be in any and all areas of your life.

That's me.

We covered a ton of principles and processes all weekend - over 30 hours worth. There's lots more to come! By the time I finish my certification training I will have roughly 300 hours of coaching and education...a whole 'nother degree.

I'm excited to get started on some real coaching sessions and workshops. So if you're interested...keep coming back or contact me! We'll get started on getting your vision and goals to reality.

Finding Treasures In a Jumbled Mess

This week I've been getting consignors ready for the huge auction yesterday. There was a building FULL of stuff to sell, and lots of great items, too. Lots of stuff. Almost too much stuff. It took a lot of effort and organizing talent to get all this stuff in some sort of understandable order. And to find those hidden treasures that are at every auction, you really had to search through all of it. Over 200 pictures, stacks and stacks of LPs (yes, records BEFORE cds), Furniture that filled half the building, and about 14 tables full of small items like dishes, toys, antique tools, salt & pepper shakers, and the list could go on for miles.

Normally, I try my hardest NOT to buy anything. But as the tables were getting cleared, the most adorable little knick-knack came into view. His little bright blue face was so uplifting I just couldn't resist getting him for my own. Isn't he cute!

When I got him home, I then had to decide his purpose. I don't keep toothpicks out in the open, and I wanted him closer to my regular view. So in the office he goes. AND, his little holder is the

perfect size for my lip gloss!

Then when I realized that I hadn't blogged in awhile (again), I just had to share him with you. Plus, finding him reminded me of how God finds my heart. Through my own jumbled mess, God searches and knows me. (He ought to, He made me in the first place). But even though my heart is full of confusion and emotion and desires and aches sometimes, God finds the center, His treasure. And when I can rest in that, I find MY Treasure. Plus, He gives me a purpose and direction. Like my little blue buddy now makes me smile while he's holding my lip gloss.

"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." (Jeremiah 17:9-10 The Message)