Bored? Climb a Mimosa Tree!

“I’m so bored!” Famous words from kids during their summer vacation even with all the technology gadgets they own – they still get weary from the same-o, same-o!

Did you complain of boredom when you were a kid? I did. My Mom’s reply to that – “Go outside and play. Make some soup.” WHAT? Oh, I knew what she meant. She wanted me to go outside because that's where we had lots of "play-grounds and play-gyms" that resolved boredom by offering great opportunities for imagination and adventures. My playground and gym was a mimosa tree in our front yard that I climbed and pretended I was in a fortress from all my enemies and when I got hungry, I made a delicious soup to share with my friends.

Those memories came back to me when we were at Beaver’s Bend this spring and mimosa trees were everywhere. I pointed them out to my grands! I still think a mimosa is the prettiest tree in the world. Its leaves are like ferns. Its flowers are pink puffballs. And it blooms in summer when few other trees do and when the puffballs fade, the tree grows hundreds of 6-inch long, bean-like, brown seedpods which hang from every branch.

As I said, not only did we climb my tree and ward off evil pirates from my “tree ship”, but we would take the bean pods from it and break it up into a big pot. We’d add the leaves, seeds, pods, and flowers from it, and add a little dirt for seasoning. Then, we pretended to cook it and enjoy our scrumptious pot of mimosa stew! BTW – I just found out in writing this post for today, that we could have actually boiled up the flowers for a real mimosa healthy drink. Both its flowers and bark were traditionally used as a sedative, specifically for calming and lifting one's spirit. HOLY MOLY! I could use a jug of it right now in dealing with my Animal Kingdom here in Austin!

We also pretended to be school teachers and mothers and sometimes we did some things that required bravery – like riding our bicycles with no hands or jumping off the high diving board. Sometimes our imaginations went too far. I’ll never forget the trouble my friend and I got into when we wanted a swimming pool and dug an 8 ft X 8 ft X 1 ft hole in my backyard. We were caught when we were adding water to “our luxurious mud pit”.

I’ll bet you can remember some wild and crazy adventures when you were a kid. Those adventures sure did break up the boredom. I talked about adventures in my post yesterday and it seems I’m on a soapbox for living life to the fullest, with no room for boredom. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” What exactly does that mean….especially when you’re as “mature” as I am? Of course, God wants us to come before Him as children, because children are innocent, and trust with a pure heart. To go before God as a child is to go with wide-eyed wonder that comes from total faith. Our Heavenly Father – our great Creator was an Adventurer par excellence (just think about all the adventures He directed His kids into – water-walking, water-parting, boat rides on stormy seas, giants tumbling with a mere stone from a shepherd boy’s sling, falling into pits and landing up in a palace). It sure seems like, as His children, it should be just “natural” to be adventure seekers because of the childlike faith we possess.

Here’s the thing -- God didn’t create us for boredom! We are always being “pushed” to be more, do more, experience more, celebrates more, live life larger than ever before. Here’s another GREAT verse. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even GREATER things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

So, why sit in the recliner of boredom, complacency, and idleness when there's so much to see, so much greater things to do and so much to experience? This world is the greatest "playground". Why should we be "dead men and women walking", instead of people who are alive, imaginative, creative AND adventurous? I’m already planning my next adventure. How about you?

Freedom Isn't Free -- Thank You, Veterans, For Paying the Ultimate Price for our Freedom!

When I was helping my youngest grandson with his history lessons, I was getting some history lessons of my own. I recalled those lessons when I thought about this Veteran’s Day -- this very important time of remembering the heroes who paid the ultimate price of their lives for our freedom. It is easy to take our nation for granted, but Veterans’ Day reminds us that freedom isn’t free. Bryson and I learned that without our soldiers' sacrifice dating back to the American Revolution, we could still be a colony of England or, even today, could be living in a world that was dominated by nazism, communism, or radical jihadism. It's a very big deal that we often take too lightly -- especially when we see another family saying "Good-bye" to their sons and daughters who have fallen during their call-of-duty.

Those incredible Americans who served and are serving in our military on active duty or in the reserves, deserve to know that if they give their lives for our nation, we will never forget their sacrifice, as well as the sacrifices made by their spouses and children whose loved one died for our country.

President John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ There are few ways less noble to serve our country than through our military, whose sacrifice, courage and strength deserve our highest gratitude. I can’t imagine the bravery of those who are willing to be placed in harm’s way or dedicate their lives to protect people he/she has never met. I am not only proud, but also honored to live in a country where this kind of courage exists. Every veteran has made the ultimate commitment and has demonstrated the pinnacle of patriotism and courage. Having a day like today, seems like a mere "token" of appreciation, but we pray that veterans are appreciated, respected and given preferential treatment for their sacrifices when it comes to their well-being, their health, their financial rewards.

In return for their acts of courage and commitment, I pray, that we show up on the side of our veterans to love and appreciate their sacrifices. From the bottom of my heart, I shout "Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for believing in the stars and stripes. Thank you for standing up for us on the battlefield. Thank you for singing the "National Anthem" with your head held high, your hand saluting the flag and the freedoms that you fought so violently for. Thank you for your service to the United States of America." I stand with you, with my hand held over my heart in allegiance to our flag, I sing loud and strong "Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light....." and I thank God for your great love for us all.

John 13:15 "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."