Gleaning wisdom from the garden

Did you know ..... that a garden is full of wisdom?  Oh yes ..... in fact gardens overflow with wisdom :)  Wisdom only they can give ..... wisdom you have to be willing to receive ..... hahahaha okay .... maybe that's being a little dramatic ;)  Okay now that my dramatic moment is over .... allow me to share the wisdom I received!!

While I was weeding our garden yesterday evening, I thought about how weeding a garden is a lot like what the Heavenly Father does in our hearts.

Clear your mind of every thought and picture this with me:

you are standing in front of this beautiful & massive vegetable garden - and in it are healthy tomato plants, cucumbers, zucchini, butternut squash, etc.  You are soo proud of it .... and you can't wait because within the next week, you will be able to go out and pick fresh, organic, non GMO veggies - yuuuuum :)

For the rest of the week it rains - c.on.t.i.n.u.o.u.s.l.y!  At the end of the week you go out and immediately your eyes aren't drawn to the beauty of the garden, but by the weeds that are contaminating it.  Being the worried gardener that you are, you get on your hands and knees and start pulling out each individual weed - one.by.one.  After about a couple days of continuously pulling weeds - you get the garden weed free and are able to focus on harvesting your vegetables!

Okay - so what am I trying to get at with this?

Allow me to tell you what each of the bold words represents in real life :)

The garden - this my dear friend is your heart.

The vegetable plants - these are your personality, faith, all your quirks, passions, and characteristics.

The rain - this is the world - it continuously tries to contaminate your faith and provide the nutrition to the lusts of your flesh.

The weeds - these are the sins that we may allow into our life if they aren't properly maintained.

The gardener - this my friend is your Creator - the Lord God Almighty

As the "garden", our outward appearance can and may seem absolutely b.e.a.u.tiful!  People can tell we have a faith in Christ, and our personality is absolutely wonderful (that of a garden - the appearance is appealing to the eyes).  And then suddenly ..... we allow the world to contaminate a portion of our lives (whether it be through music, books, TV, friends, etc) and all of a sudden "weeds" start growing and growing and growing.  Now what once seemed beautiful and pleasant to look at, now seems unpleasant to look at and unenjoyable to be around.  But thankfully the Gardener (God) is worried about us enough, that if we let Him, He will take care of each and individual sin (weed) until our garden (heart) is once again free from every sin.

Told you gardens were full of wisdom :)

I pray that you all have a great night!!

Oh btw: It is true that I enjoy gardening - only if I want to do it though.  If I'm asked to do it ..... I will begrudgingly do it, but I wont necessarily enjoy doing it :P

Don't forget - the blogoversary party will be starting July 8th .... so if you want to submit something send it in.  Submissions need to be in by July 7th at 11 pm - that is the latest!!  Email all submissions at: pureprincess95 {at} gmail {dot} com

In HIS grace, Alisha 

The time is almost here!

As you all may know – my third blogoversary is coming up ….. quite quickly actually :)  So after much thought and preparation ….. I am pleased to announce the very first annual blogoversary party …..yep that's right ….. a party!!

This will be a one week party ….... with many fun and exciting events!

The categories for this year are:

:: Your Time to Speak << In what ways has the Lord grown your faith? What is your testimony? >> – three openings left!

:: Our Crowning Glory << have any hairstyles you enjoy doing? Then submit a tutorial >> – two openings left!

:: What's Cookin' << What recipes do you love to make? >> – three openings left!

:: Short Story << Do you like writing? Then submit your story >> - three openings left!

:: Giveaway << Are you one who has one too many completed projects and would like to something away? Feel free to contact me and we can discuss a possible giveaway >>

 :: Adorned in Modest Apparel Fashion Show << Do you love wearing modest clothing? We have two categories for the fashion show - “Totally Me” is the everyday casual that you prefer to wear. “Time to get dressy” is what you wear to special outings, church, etc. Feel free to enter your photos for the fashion show. NOTE: We will not accept pictures of inappropriately dressed young women. All entries need to be modestly dressed. >>

If you are interested in submitting anything contact me through the "Contact Me" page and we will go from there :)

So here is the invite :)

You are invited to join me for the 1st annual blogoversary party (even though it's this blog's 3rd anniversary lol)

When: July 8, 2014 - July 15, 2014

Where: Here at Alisha in Progress

RSVP: Just comment and tell me what your are most excited about :)

In HIS grace, Alisha

Join me for the 2 month summer challenge

I have always struggled with weight.  As a little girl I was a little on the chubby side.  In high school I hit the weight of ....... *ahem* ....... 208 pounds.  It wasnt until January that I was convicted in the area of taking care of my body in the way of physical fitness.  However, it wasnt until June 16, 2014 that I finally made the decision to take the leap and actually become physically fit.

I cannot begin to tell you how excited, pumped/hyped (which ever one is accurate), nervous, and a tad bit scared I am about this.

I will be doing:

→Mondays, Wednesdays,  and Fridays - 30 minute brisk walking; 30 squats; 40 jumping jacks; 10 toe touches while standing; 50 second toe touch while sitting; 60 wall sit.

→Tuesdays, Thursdays,  and Saturday - 15 minute brisk walking; 45 minute biking; crunches

→ Sunday - REST :)


"Now this isn't really an exciting kick off!"  Well, now here is the "exciting part ;)

Although I am going to start making working out a part of my daily routine, I am currently considering this this as a "2 Month Summer Challenge".

Other things that I am doing are:

☆going gluten free
☆no processed sugars
☆TV once a week or less

<< If you wish to join me and my good friend in this challenge ...... contact me thru the "Contact Me" page

<< To be kept up to date with what I'm doing and other exciting things visit:                         

                                  www.takingcareofthefatherstemple.blogspot.com

6.7.2014 - Graduation

My high school graduation was absolutely wonderful!  Although I am just a lil' biased ..... my parents did the best job in making my graduation a very special day!!!  Thank you so much Daddy and Mom!!!!!

We had family (Daddy's parents and grandma) come in from Texas ...... and Mom's mom came over for the day!!

Enjoy the pictures ..... and sorry the videos were cut short!!! :)

Just in case you couldn't tell ...... my colors were royal blue and white :)

:: Yours truly ..... it's hard for me to believe that I'M DONE :) ::

:: Daddy made the sweetest speech :) ::

:: Mom said she wouldn't be able to stay together if she did a speech ... :) ::

:: ... so she sang "Mind of Christ" by the Wissmann family [I don't know the real author of the song, sorry] ::

:: Sydney played violin while Mom sang, and when we sang "In Christ Alone" ::

:: This is the most precious thing I've ever held lol ;)  Nah just joking ....... Sydney was the was the most precious thing I've ever held :)  Although ...... my diploma is second on the list!! ::

:: Sydney and I sang "In Christ Alone", "This Little Light of Mine" and "Oh How I Love Jesus" (the last two were accapella) ::

 :Me and Great - Grandma Joyce (Daddy's grandma)  ..... *ahem* please excuse the smeared mascara .... yes I was crying lol ::

 :: Me and Grandma Shirley (Mom's Mom) ::

:: Grandpa Larry, Me, and Grandma Linda (these are Daddy's parents) ::

:: Me and my family :) ::

:: Me and my Daddy (I love him sooo much) :) ::

Oh I almost forgot - I wanna share my speech with y'all :)

"I wanna thank Google and Wikipedia for getting me here!  I also wanna thank my arms for being by my side, my legs for supporting me, and for my fingers ..... cuz I can always count on them.  In the words of Martin Luther King, JR. 'Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!'"

In HIS grace, Alisha