Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Home Sweet Home


As I slid between "my" white cotton sheets Sunday night, and let the comforter fall around me - it was instantly I began giving thanks.

  Our Sunday road travel was shadowed by His protection,  more than my eye could see,
 all the tight hugs we received, small talk & big talk, family time, fun game-time, laughter, gifts, first-time seeing babies,
 the abundant & flavor-filled food, friends and relaxation.
  The list continues.....

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
 and cometh down from the Father of lights,
 with whom is no variableness,
 neither shadow of turning.Jas 1:17


sharing with you & remembering for myself


when we arrived on Saturday, the 21st we witnessed
~a special uniting of two hearts~
our very first time to sit on bales of wheat straw at a wedding

The grooms cake request was filled to his liking....
Red Velvet Armadillo Cake
(remind you of the movie "Steel Magnolias")
wedding location wasn't far from where the movie was filmed

our oldest showed his hospitality by allowing us to relax at his place
(of course MOM has added a few touches in the decor)
Be sure to enjoy the view out the windows,
 while the guys hunted, I lounged in the pj's drinking my coffee.

the leaves were still trying to hang on
~this was the front view ~
 the squirrels were busy eating the acorns
but, Monday morning I opened the blinds
 to find this one of a kind view
these oreos apparently love the acorns, too

on Sunday we worshipped where we joined hands & hearts
 24 years ago & our boys were baptized.
 The sanctuary was already being prepared for the
Hanging of the Green.
  This is one Christmas Tradition, I dearly miss.

the guys took a break from duck hunting
and gave Mom a carwash for her birthday :-)
don't these three look like they could produce
their own duck-hunting video???
Dad's holding the treasures.
The last night we were there,
we met friends (we had not seen in six years) in a nearby town.
 A wonderful meal was shared,
 enjoyed the Christmas lights together
and the children as well as the adults were awed with  the fireworks.


HOME SWEET HOME!

I've been praying the Lord would help me make our location
feel like "home".

I received text messages this past week,
 while away from friends here.
Giving me affirmation the
Lord is working.

  A long-time friend shared something with me one time -

"it takes alot of shared experiences, to develop relationships & friendships"


Okay, long post today, I enjoyed reminiscing!
We arrived back on Sunday,
I was in the courthouse early Monday for Jury duty,
I was "free to go",
but not freed from the duties of housework.
I want to get this duty out of the way
so I can have fun
"decorating for Christmas".

I'll be visiting with you this week and will take another short break from posting,
until everything is in order here.

Thank you all for your sweet & many comments.
The birthday & anniversary wishes were so kind.

Friday, November 19, 2010

~Heartfelt Wishes~



I pray you & your family share a wonderful time together
on the day we set aside to remember
how bless we are.
This is my longing for my family as well.

Good memories to be made,
pictures to be taken,
hugs to be given,
tables to be set as if it were the
 last time to set our loved one's plate,
"remember we are not promised tomorrow"
each moment is to be treasured.

I want to say thank you to all of you
who for some reason have decided
to read my feeble attempt of words,
as I share my heart & journey
and adjust their eyes
to the out of focus pictures. :)

Friends have been made from near & far and
I pray relationships may continue to grow.

I will not be "clicking publish post" for quite a few days,
I'll be traveling, visiting, cooking, and
 celebrating birthdays & 24 years of marriage.


O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,
let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.
Psalm 95:1-2 NASB

~A thought to leave you with~
Gratitude = Worship
May we worship Our Lord & Saviour,
Jesus Christ this Thanksgiving
through our thankfulness.

Joining Charlotte & Ginger
at Spiritual Sundays.

Monday, November 15, 2010

your legacy will outlive you - Max Lucado




Preparations are being made to spend time with family
  next week .......
lots of lists, packing, and prayers for safety
the time we set aside for vacation
the coming together for a Day of Thanksgiving.


it seems these times
are when those who
have lived their lives,
and
 have been ushered home
are missed the most.


~death runs in my family~
we all face the harshness & the reality
sooner or later


memories are recalled daily
as I walk past this table,
 in the room where I give rest to my body

the majority of these framed faces
will not share the table with us
but their ~legacy~ lives on


memories of words, gestures, sayings
those linger

recollections shine bright
the prayers I remember hearing
the smells of chicken & dressing
the peering out the kitchen windows
as family members started arriving,
~
all these are mine to remember
~
Thankful for those who have left a legacy in my life.





~I long & pray for my children to have their own~

may the good ones out-weigh
 those of anger, frustration and busyness

how mama loved to set the table
the smells of my cooking
the prayers daddy offered as hands were held

I pray the bad ones, the hurting ones
will wither be blown away & decay


I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough.
Nichole Nordeman

Saturday, November 13, 2010

~just wish you could have gone~

Saturday mornings are for sleeping in,
 enjoying the morning coffee...

hitting the road


I would have loved to have taken
 a few dear friends with me today.


Especially those who have encouraged me through
 this new journey,

the new found ones ~ the ones whom I've not been able to hug ~
~the one I do hug on Sunday mornings~
~those who are struggling and just need a day out~

~ the dear one who loves to worship on weekends
 at different places of worship~

and those who have been constant
through all kinds of weather.

~~~~
A beautiful morning,
clouds began appearing quickly
& I found an early winter surprise
and watched the bees,
so busy with their mission.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 KJV

Friends must be constant at all times.
~
Swallow-friends, that fly to you in summer,
 but are gone in winter; such friends are no great loss. 
~
 Christ is a friend that loves at all times.

I'm sharing my day out with the others
&
Scripture and A Snap Shot


Thursday, November 11, 2010

***~~~***~~~***

O Beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
~my Dad~
February 19, 1920 - May 22, 2000

America! America!
 God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Katherine Lee Bates

So thankful for those who have served
and are serving our country!

We fly our flag proudly,
and it is a reminder of my daddy,
who served his country in WWII.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Shaped Crispy Edges

My favorite breakfast menu
~~~
Pancakes
Bacon
Coffee
~~~

I've not shared this before,
but my sweetheart loves to
cook breakfast.

I am blessed and thankful!

I absolutely love pancakes
with crispy edges.
You achieve this by placing a small amount
 of oil/butter on the griddle
and when the griddle is just the right temp
pour on the dough.

~He knows just how to make them ~
but, take a look at my

 SIMPLE PLEASURE
on Saturday morning
when
He called
"breakfast is ready"

(he loves to make all kind of shapes for children when they visit us)
dinosaurs, mickey mouse.....

I thought I would share the recipe with you today.
It is tried and true and you can half it.

Plain Pancakes
2 cups flour
6 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 cup canola oil
Mix dry ingredients.  Add milk, eggs, and oil.
Stirring gently until mixed.
 Let rest - while griddle is getting hot.
Spray griddle with Pam unless you want them my way.
 Pour on hot griddle.

(Be sure to watch them puff up when you flip them.)
That's a Simple Pleasure in itself.

So many Simple Pleasures in this post;
but, most of all the blessings
of being able to enjoy breakfast together
on weekends and a mate who
truly is a gift from the Lord.
 ~
Karen
~
Joining the others at
click on the Simple Pleasure box below
and visit the others who have linked
to the Simple Pleasure post.
I know you will enjoy! ;-)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

~just one aspect of my life~

We are so grateful for our home and
love sharing with others...
there is nothing to compare
to great fellowship and food.

as I give you a stroll thru our living area


~the worn duck decoy belonged to my husband's grandfather~
~crystal biscuit jar was a Christmas gift from years past~
the pumpkin was added for a little fall touch

girls, I don't go moving stuff around much
I do enjoy adding a few things for the seasons
I find the right spot and leave it. 

the back side of the arrangement
had to show you what was under the biscuit jar  ;-)

~view from my end of the couch~
the sunflower picture was a greeting card, painted by my mother-in-law
isn't it lovely?  I change this frame out with the seasons
the wooden box - can't remember where it came from - but I know what's inside
I don't usually give you many laughs when you read my blog,
 but this one get ready! 
TEETH!!!
All those teeth that mom & dad collected and slipped  a quarter
or dollar under the pillow.

gifts - great finds - and nature

see the pretty little pinecones - I keep these out year round
just a pain to get the dust out

the bowl is a treasure found at a flea market
don't you just love the fruit?
looks so real with the cloves stuck in the oranges
~the bowl is beautiful with fruit salad in it~

many of you have seen this grouping before
told you I don't swap things around
I only change out the fall leaves and replace
with seasonal greenery
I use alot of crystal, yes I have boys, and most of the time
there are more boys, it hasn't proved to be a problem;
sure they are older, but, they need to be exposed to
beauty too!

But, I'm reminded - it's just things
in light of eternity.

When I get ready to use the cake plate under the rabbits
 or tray for sandwiches, I remove it from the grouping,
 wash it  :-)  and then put it back when I'm finished.
I don't have alot of storage in our home.

This small table is beside the front door.

The feather nest is a Christmas tree ornament,
 a friend gave me.

Okay, girls had to show you where
my husband rests.
Just getting real. 

(see the monstrosity by the front door?  that's my croton from the front porch, we've had cool temps)

No staging at my house,
~this is the real deal~
just picked up the folded clothes
and dusted a little for the picture.

My desire is to provide a
haven for my family
and a place for friends
to feel relaxed and comfortable.

Just wish all of you precious girls could come
and "pay a visit". 

Monday, November 8, 2010

Exceeding

May my Thanksgiving List always Exceed my request list

Lord, at this moment I humble myself,
 knowing that pride and arrogance
cannot walk hand in hand with thanksgiving.
I desire to practice gratitude and daily surrender
 my will to this walk of life.

Give me understanding to these words
 pain does have potential for gratitude,
 when problems arise this too is
an opportunity for my faith to be exercised.
  

Viewing situations with gratitude
 takes deliberation of the will and practice.


It is so easy to overlook blessings,
 if our hearts are not molded to gratitude.

 
Gratitude = Worship
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many,
 may cause thanksgiving to abound to the Glory of God.
  2 Cor. 4:15

 You Lord, are my Shepherd,
I have more than I need, I am thankful for
your faithfulness, provisions, and your wonderful WORD
that contains treasures more than sufficient for my
every need.  Amen

continuing to look and count...
161. sitting in the warmth HE provides
162.  phone call from a sister
163.  conversations with friends in Western Auto
164.  love relationship with God that goes on forever
165.  extra hour of rest
166.  friends who give rides
167.  new purple pjs
168.  assurance of never being alone
169.  peppermint tea time with my sweetheart
170.  lunch shared with church family
171.  Sunday evening outside fire
172.  game time
173.  the moment of watching everyone give Allegiance to the Flag
174.  prayer at the Basketball Game
175.  "new to us" transportation
176.  His mercies are NEW each morning
177.  excitement from planning visits to family & friends
178. share time at Bible Study
179.  answered prayer (seeing HIM at work)
180.  a mate who is loving & patient

When you say thank-you do you smile?
The two go hand in hand!
~ ~ ~
I encourage you to to do something this week,
 to make someone smile.
~~~
In Him,
Karen
Joining the others in the
Gratitude Community
 

Saturday, November 6, 2010

~Safe~

"He is the Hiding Place"

run to Jesus and be safe
there will be no true joy and peace of mind
until we make Him,
as the verse says
 "my" hiding place.
~ ~ ~

I found this piece of artwork last week.
I guess the dirt dobber
had deserted his "hiding place".

~~~

Joining the others at

and

(please bear with me until I learn all the buttons on the new camera)
I've got a long way to go!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

K+N

my Simple Pleasure

~the holding of hands~

joining the others
at



Project Simple Pleasures2 

~never in the picture~

I had a really "hard" time finding a picture for this post.
I wanted so badly to convey
that today is a
one - of - a - kind - day.

Not everyone is blessed as I am!

I could find plenty of these 

she has graciously shared with me

 

she loves taking pictures of Her Creator's beautiful creations


those kind of things you don't get to see everyday
and then the loves of her life,
her children
Pr 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
but, rarely do you find her in a picture
~But, I searched high & low and found ONE~

I must share that she is the most wonderful
mother-in-law a girl could ever be graced with.

I've gained much Godly wisdom from her,
in the 24 years of marriage to her oldest.

The best Momie' (mom-me) to our two sons.

Encourager to Young Women.
~~~
She truly expresses the words
of Proverbs 31.

SHE IS SPECIAL!
Today is her birthday,
Happy Birthday,
MOMIE'

She makes her rounds reading posts in the blogging world,
hoping one day soon she begins her very own.
I'll be the first to introduce her!