The Wife of Noble Character

My dad's garden is beginning to produce fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans and potatoes. He amazes himself and everyone around him that he still has his green thumb at the age of 90.  He loves to share with the neighbors. The interesting thing is that he believes my daughter and I can cook, freeze or can all of the various produce just the way my mother has always done. Does food ever taste as good as our mother's cooking? My mother has cooked 3 meals a day for 65 years of marriage and knows more recipes by heart than I could find in a dozen cookbooks.  I love the scriptures in Proverbs 31:5 about "The Wife of Noble Character."  V. 10: "A wife of noble character ", who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.v. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."
My mother truly is the example of the wife who has never been afraid of work, has respect for her husband and shows love, kindness and respect for others.  My prayer is that God will v. 31 "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Healthy Living and Vegetables

Morning by morning new mercies I see. I drive to work praying and watching the sunrise split the sky like a gateway to heaven.  In the evening after work I visit my parents for a short but often sweet time. Thankfully, they are both able to think coherently, make their own decisions and keep all of the family busy. Mamma at 87 knows many healthy recipes for maintaining good nutrition for diseases with which they both must deal, diabetes and hypertension. Daddy, at 90 years old, gardens to grow the vegetables which they enjoy.  Raw banana peppers, green onions and fresh tomatoes are part of the daily fare, while southern cooked turnips are their favorite. Gardening gives daddy great opportunities for outdoor activities. Unstable on his feet, he often scares us when sprawling face first across the garden or tripping over a root. Mamma  not only has learned about diabetic cooking, she also knows that looking out the window toward the garden can be anxiety provoking. She maintains her calm by being sure daddy wears his emergency call button around his neck and carries his walkie talkie with him. After all, they must have fresh vegetables to stay young.