Week 3

So today was week 3 of the experiment. And I must say I have continued to be impressed. There is lots of new growth and on the cherry tomato lots of flowers. It's getting harder to water them now because of all the new growth as I have to stand on the ledge to reach the top. Not a bad problem to have I suppose. But I guess I'm going to have to break down and get a watering wand pretty soon.

Roma Tomato: Week 3

Cherry Tomato: Week 3

Roma Tomato: Week 3

Cherry Tomato: Week 3

Topsy Turvy Experiment

Yesterday was the 2 week mark in my experiment. I must say that I'm pleased with the results so far. I've seen noticeable changes and growth. You can see where the branches are curving upward towards the sun. And on the cherry tomato there has been more sprouting of flowers. A small green tomato has formed and continues to grow bigger and bigger. So all in all I'm pleased. Hopefully the rest of the experiment will be pleasing as well.

7 days into the experiment. Not bad I suppose but I must confess I am quite impatient and wanted to see more growth.

Here's the Cherry Tomato: Day 7

Roma Tomato: Day 7

Cherry Tomato: Day 7

Cherry Tomato

Roma Tomato: Day 14. Definitely more leaves but no flowers yet.

Cherry Tomato: Day 14. I've been very impressed by the Cherry Tomato. It already has a fruit and more flowers sprouting.

Roma Tomato: Day 14

Cherry Tomato: Day 14

The Great 'Topsy Turvy Tomato' Experiment

Last year before I left Grandma heard about something called Topsy Turvy. It's a planter for tomatoes. There is a hole in the bottom where you insert the seedling in. Then you fill the rest of the bag with potting soil. It's suppose to help them grow better and bigger. The bag is suppose to work like a greenhouse. And then you won't stakes or cages to keep the tomatoes from falling over. It's also suppose to be great for those who don't have space for a garden. And the best part is you don't have to weed. So we shall see how this goes. Today is day 1. I will keep you updated on how it works.

So here is plant #1 a Roma tomato

A here is plant #2 a Cherry tomato

I'm not who I was...

I've always heard that growth is good. And I truly believe it is. It's important to grow and change. I am not the same person I was even a year ago. I have changed to adapt to where I am now and what is happening in my life now. I have stretched and changed. I can't stay at where I was before. It's not who I am now. God has moved me on. A friend of mine once said that growth is so important to have because the opposite of it is not good. The opposite of growth is death. So as painful as growing and stretching can be I need to do it. I can't be where God wants me to be tomorrow if I'm not willing move to where He wants me today. You might think that this is rather random and it is, but it is also me wanting to express what I have been learning lately.

I have learnt that I am not perfect. I mess up more then I do right. I try and that's all that I can do. I can strive to do more but in the end I can only do what I can do. I am learning that it's ok. It's ok to not have it all together. It's ok to be not ok sometimes. That I mess up but it's ok. God forgives me and my real friends do as well.

I'm learning that people disappoint and frustrate me. And I know I disappoint and frustrate others. I'm learning that I can't live up to someone else's expectations and standards. And other people can't live up to mine. I'm learning that not everyone is going to like me (a hard one for me). And I'm learning that I'm not going to like everybody.

I'm learning that's it's ok to say no sometimes. It kinda goes back to the having everyone like me thing. But sometimes I need to say no. I'm learning that it's ok to stay away from those who just want to use and abuse me. Who want to suck me into their drama. Who suck the life from me. Or make me apart of something I don't need to be apart of. I can't be their savior, only Jesus can be. I can't and don't have to fix other peoples problems for them. I can only do what God asks me to do.

I'm learning that I am a sponge. I absorb everything and I need to stop. I can't take everything upon myself. I'm not Superman. I can't do it all. I'm learning that that's ok too.

I need to learn how to let go of past hurts and resentments. To learn how to take criticism the right way. Not as a personal insult but as something, that if it's true, to gain wisdom from. And if it's not true to let it slide right off me. To not beat myself up over the things I can't do. But realize that there are many things that I can do. I need to realize that there is always room to learn more. To grow more. God help me to never stop growing.

Going to the Chapel...

I went to a wedding today. It's was incredibly beautiful. It was at Moli'i Gardens at Kualoa Ranch. Hidden away next to the fishpond. It's amazing how the early Hawaiians thought. They were quite brilliant in some things. Fish go in and feed, then get so big they can't get out. While I was standing there I could see and hear the splashing of fish leaping out of the water. One splash was so big and loud I thought somebody had jumped in! In the shallows a very large fish kept swimming by. His back fin and tail could be seen and would cut through the water as he went after his prey.

It is something that you would never guess is there. In fact I talked to several people who have lived on Oahu all their lives and never knew it was there. One of these days I would love to take some of the tours they offer at the ranch. The garden was gorgeous. The colors were so vivid and brilliant. Rich burgundies, bright scarlets, luminous yellows, greens in as many shades as you can possibly imagine, warm browns, and the vivid blue of the sky before soft gray clouds hid it from view. The perfect background for a wedding with all that color and the mountains standing directly behind the walkway for the bride. The adorable flower-girl and ring-bearer trailed after their father as he escorted his mother-in-law, the bride's mother to her seat. The bridesmaids dressed in breezy dresses of cerulean came next. Gracefully traveling down the curving stairs to stand in expectation for the bride. Soon the moment came when the bride stepped to to the top step with her father. She was radiantly beautiful. Shimmering with excitement and love for her groom. Down, she tread, getting closer and closer to the her love and the start of her new life. The ceremony was performed with care, making sure the gravity of the vows the bride and groom were making were carefully thought through. But it also expressed the joy of the moment. Soon came the exchanging of rings and partaking of communion. The best, as always, is saved for last, the first kiss as man and wife.

I think one of the reasons I love weddings so much (well at least the ones where I not running around like crazy trying to solve unexpected problems and accomplish everything that needs to get done) is because it is celebrating the joy of two people in love committing themselves to each other. And if they are serving God, committing their lives together to God. Awesome! Congratulations Mike and Julie!

Before the ceremony

Afterwards. Notice how there is no longer any blue peeking out.

They served pupus here while they took the pictures

Here comes the bride

She's so beautiful

The poor ring-bearer was feeling a little sleepy

At last

the kiss