100 Species Challenge

I found a fun idea I'm going to try: The 100 Species Challenge, this sounds wonderful, I wonder how many different species I have in my own back garden?
Here are the rules:

1. Participants should include a copy of these rules and a link to this entry in their initial blog post about the challenge.

2. Participants should keep a list of all plant species they can name, either by common or scientific name, that are living within walking distance of the participant’s home. The list should be numbered, and should appear in every blog entry about the challenge, or in a sidebar.

3. Participants are encouraged to give detailed information about the plants they can name in the first post in which that plant appears. My format will be as follows: the numbered list, with plants making their first appearance on the list in bold; each plant making its first appearance will then have a photograph taken by me, where possible, a list of information I already knew about the plant, and a list of information I learned subsequent to starting this challenge, and a list of information I’d like to know.

4. Participants are encouraged to make it possible for visitors to view their blog to find easily all 100-Species-Challenge blog posts. This can be done either by tagging these posts, by ending every post on the challenge with a link to your previous post on the challenge, or by some method which surpasses my technological ability and creativity.

5. Participants may post pictures of plants they are unable to identify, or are unable to identify with precision. They should not include these plants in the numbered list until they are able to identify it with relative precision. Each participant shall determine the level of precision that is acceptable to her; however, being able to distinguish between plants that have different common names should be a bare minimum.

6. Different varieties of the same species shall not count as different entries (e.g., Celebrity Tomato and Roma Tomato should not be separate entries); however, different species which share a common name be separate if the participant is able to distinguish between them (e.g., camillia japonica and camillia sassanqua if the participant can distinguish the two–”camillia” if not).

7. Participants may take as long as they like to complete the challenge. You can make it as quick or as detailed a project as you like. I’m planning to blog a minimum of two plants per week, on Saturdays, complete with pictures and descriptions as below, which could take me up to a year. But you can do it in whatever level of detail you like.

Thank you Carmen, Bloom for Our KING! QB

Voice of the Martyrs

In March 2008, Pastor KhamLa Namheng and seven Khmu pastors from Udom Sai province in Laos were arrested when entering Thailand to attend meetings. VOM contacts report, “They went the wrong way trying to avoid a police check point. When the police later searched their bags they found two Bibles and some letters. The police claimed the letters were written against the village authority reporting persecution.”
Pastors’ Kham Chan Konekham, Kham La Namheng, Siphone Namheng, Khamnath Namheng, Serth Naphok, Khou Phouphone, Thong Soun Namtam, and Houng Mokbooc were arrested on March 18 when they entered Thailand and were followed by the Laos police. When they were searched two of them had Bibles, and everything they were carrying was confiscated. This arrest was the latest after 15 Hmong families were arrested in Bokeo Province on February 22.



I'm writing KhamLa Namheng today, with words of encouragement, to let him know I'm praying for him and the others with him. My letter will be sent to Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Bloom for our KING!

Graduation Quilt

This quilt was made for our daughter Laura Beth, by her Grandmother, Two Great Aunts and by me, her Mother. My Mother embroidered the sunflowers with little bees and sewed the blocks together, My Aunt Roberta made the large sunflowers with punch art, My Aunt Karen quilted it and did the binding all by hand. I chose the material and printed the pictures of Laura Beth.

This tradition started in 2004 for our eldest son Daniel when he graduated from Saddleback Christian Academy ISP, the theme on his quilt was music. I'll post a picture of his soon.

This is an heirloom that will be treasured and admired for years to come. Specially made for Laura Beth, by her Grandmother, Mother, and Aunt Roberta and Aunt Karen.

Bloom for your KING!
QB

Rugby in Colorado

For the record here were the results on the weekend:

Griffins 23 Eastern Rockies 0
Griffins 17 Heart of America 14
Griffins 15 Texas 5
Griffins 10 Wisconsin 7

James went to Denver Colorado to play for Orange County Rugby Team the "Griffins".
His team did very well winning first place with a nice big trophy. We picked James up from LAX last night, he was tired and happy wearing his U18's Griffins shirt.

Graduation Celebration

In honor of Laura Beth French, Tuesday the tenth of June, two thousand and eight, half past five o'clock in the afternoon. Today! I feel happy for my daughter while feeling strange this is happening. She means so much to me, from the moment she was born. She's gentle, she's calm, she's smart and now getting ready to go Azusa Pacific University.

After the graduation we are going out to dinner at "Maggianos Restaurant" should be very fun with family and friends.

I feel a little over whelmed today, I'm having an open house this Saturday, making plans cleaning the house and back garden preparing for a nice get together with friends from church, close relatives and neighbors and friends. Wow! what a big deal I'm having. I must keep calm and pray for my nerves to relax and to enjoy preparing for a party.

Dear Lord, thank you for this day, and thank you for Laura Beth and my family. You are so good to me. May this day of graduation be a blessing, and may Saturday be honorable to You my Heavenly Father. Lord, please keep me calm while preparing and getting ready for the graduation and for the party. Help me to be wise with what is a priority to work on first, second, third and last. Be with our finances that I spend wisely for our family. I lift all my anxiety to You and I give You myself, knowing You are walking right beside me. In Jesus Name, AMEN

Music is a Gift from God

"In Christ Alone" by Geoff Moore

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when striving cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
fullness of god in helpless babe
This fight of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as he stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
for I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
Form life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me fro His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Something about Music that helps the soul with a calmness of delight. Or when your doing the dishes, your voice can be lifting up to Him in song, while your feet are doing the shuffle. Or when your on a bike, or any type of exercising, we can all sing and Praise the Lord! Music is a great gift from God, Creator of all things.

Psalm 150
Let Everything Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty heavens!
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with lute and harp!
Praise Him with tambourine and dance;
praise Him with strings and pipe!
Praise Him with sounding cymbals;
Praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Rugby Banquet

Rugby descends from an 18th century Cornish or Welsh sport known as "hurling" in which a ball was thrown up and the players acting either as individuals or as teams attempted to carry it to a goal.[1] The goal could be set as far as several miles away thereby creating the opportunity for large-scale brawls in intervening villages. In Welsh the sport is called cnapan or "criapan". The old Irish predecessor of the sport may be caid, not to be confused with Gaelic "hurling" or "hockey" which has the difference that the ball was hit with a stick rather than carried. Rugby Football is commonly known as "rugby" and as "rugger".


Today we are going to a rugby banquet for the Gators of San Clemente. My son James has played a great season, and is very anxious for this party. I am bringing some cookies for dessert and other families bring pot luck style. I will write more about the awards. Have a wonderful Saturday, Keep your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will go strangley dim, in the light of His wonderful face. Bloom for the King!
Love you all,
QB