shopping, eating, and opening presents!

My sweet girl and I decided we needed a change of scenery . So, last weekend, she and I took off for the big city! We ate lunch Friday at a cute little restaurant called "The Grape" and spent the afternoon shopping at a neat outdoor mall and Ikea. Wow! Ikea was everything all you bloggers said it was. I saw lots of things I like. So, after the wedding, I'm taking J and the credit card back again! ha! ha!
We spent the night at that great hotel I blogged about before where my friend and I stayed...Hotel Sierra. She loved the terry robes and said the pillows were like being on a cloud! We drove a few miles out of the way, but it was worth it!
Saturday lunch was The Cheesecake Factory! I had never been, but my girl had, so she ordered for us..... Chicken and Biscuits divided by two. As you can see in the picture, the serving was huge.... more than enough for two.



We actually got a take home box planning to have the rest for dinner. Then, what we both had been waiting for.... the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake! We shared it, too.


Oh my goodness! Since I've been dieting, it has been along time since I've had something that decadent... maybe never! I took a bite and just closed my eyes to savor the taste. Pitiful, huh?
After lunch,we made our way down the road for about an hour until we reached the home of a friend of the groom's family..... the location of the last bridal shower. It was a lovely home and a lovely party.

And a lovely bride!

A picnic basket filled with "picnic-y" things from the groom's mom... a great idea!


I put this together for her after seeing really expensive ones advertised in Southern Living. After a few attempts at taking and printing out pictures, I finally got it right. Well, right enough that she was pleased... and that's what matters! :-) In case you don't get it.... it is the wedding date 9-18-10!

The bride with her fiance's mom and grandmother. Aren't they lovely in blue?

So, it was a fun time... the last mother-daughter trip before the wedding and an opportunity to make new friends. We needed to do something happy.......and we did! Oh, but guess what... we left our "leftovers" in the fridge at the friend's house! So, no chicken and biscuits for dinner...bummer!

up and down, up and down....

I've had a lot of mixed feelings today. This morning, at church, someone asked me. "Are you on an emotional roller coaster?" My response without hesitation..."Yes". While running errands for the wedding this afternoon, I had this song on "repeat". It played over and over and I needed to be reminded over and over..."He is greater than my yesterdays, He holds me close today, and He's the Lord of my tomorrows!" I hope it blesses and encourages you!

saying good-bye again

J's mother passed away early Sunday morning. She was 82 and had been in a nursing home near her daughter (about 4 hours away from us) for about 5 years. Her health had been declining steadily for about a year. As you can imagine, it has been very difficult for J and his sister to watch this as they have cared for her. So, letting her go has been a little easier because they know she is not uncomfortable or unhappy anymore.
She was the last surviving parent for me or J. When my dad died a few weeks ago, my brother said,"Well, Sis, I guess this makes us orphans." Yes, our earthly parents have left us, but I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father will "never leave us or forsake us". His arms will always be there to hold us, His Word will always be there to comfort us, His love will always be there to sustain us.
"For I am sure that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8;38-39 Thank you, Father.

talk about an office party!

This week, the sweet and wonderful people that my girl and I work with surprised her with a "mini" bridal shower at our monthly staff meeting!


She was completely surprised.......


And they were extremely generous.......


The gifts just kept coming.........

Oh, the joy of unexpected blessings!

incredibly edible!

Have you seen these advertised on TV? Have you received one? Well, I'll have to admit that my sweet girl and I have made fun of these when we have seen the commercials.

We agreed that they were pretty, but the thought of sending one as a gift seemed a little goofy. :-)
However, on Wednesday, this one was sent to our office. As as you can see, it WAS beautiful and the fruit was delicious. The strawberries were huge and juicy and the ones dipped in chocolate were... oh my goodness.... YUMMY!

So, I'm still not convinced that they are an appropriate gift for many occasions, it was a nice treat for an office full of hungry women... and the two guys (the MD and the PA)!!
So, if you need a recommendation, you have one..... the famous "edible arrangements" are not just edible, they are incredibly edible!

who's misleading whom?

I looked at my profile page today and noticed that it says I have been on blogger since 2007. Well, I have been reading other blogs since then, but only started this blog in March 2010. It isn’t a big deal, but it is a little misleading.
I went to Hobby Lobby Friday to buy fabric. I noticed their candles were half price this week and I’ve been waiting for that kind of sale to buy the votives for the wedding reception. So, I filled my basket with 6 boxes of votives. When I checked out, the cashier said, “You know these aren’t half price, right? It is only the single candles, not the value packs.” Well, the sign was hanging on the shelf where the value packs were. I’m sure in the fine print, it said... “singles only”, but I didn’t notice it. As you might suspect, I didn’t buy them. I still have a few weeks. But, the point is, I thought that was misleading.
Remember what the serpent said to Eve..... “ Did God actually say you shall not eat from any tree in the garden?....... You will not surely die. For God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil.” He twisted God’s words, he misled her.
Sometimes I mislead others......when I whine and complain, when I worry, when I am impatient, when I am unloving or unkind, when I am selfish, when I am jealous. Those things say to others that God is not trustworthy, that He isn’t in control, that He does not meet our needs, that He isn’t loving and kind, that He doesn’t care for us.
I don’t want to do that. I want others to see God for who He really is. I want them to know that He is the Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth. He is the one who has made a way for my redemption and the one who lives in me and through me.
God says I should "always be prepared to give an answer, to everyone who asks me, to give the reason for the hope that I have” and He commands that "my light should shine before men, that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven”. A spirit-filled life is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness so that others will be led to God's marvelous light not misled into further darkness.
God empowers and enables me to live the life of obedience He has called me to......."God is able to make all grace abound toward me that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." II Cor. 9:8 Praise the Lord!

shower of blessings II

A happy bride......


a lovely table and delicious food........



beautiful flowers........


a loving group of generous friends......


and thoughtful gifts......


makes for a wonderfully sweet day!

mercy me!

Well........... my daughter-in-law had out patient surgery last week. My husband, J, is having out patient surgery tomorrow. I wonder what else is going to happen while we are planning the wedding! :-) All I can say is..... I am glad "His mercies are new every morning" because I'm dipping deep these days!

a shower of blessings

On Saturday, five precious ladies and long time friends hosted my sweet girl's first bridal shower.
Everything was beautiful and it was such a wonderful time of visiting with friends and being blessed by their generosity.
As you can tell by the pictures, my friend's home is lovely, comfortable and inviting, so everyone felt right at home.The guests were a mixture of ladies my girl has known all her life to some she has befriended more recently.
Her fiance's mom and sister were there.We were so grateful that they were able (they live about 2 hours away) to enjoy the special time and to get to meet our dear friends.

The refreshment table was so pretty and the food was delicious... some of the bride's favorites!



Don't you love the lemonade decanter/dispenser (not sure what you call it!) ? But it sure looked pretty sitting up high on the stand.


And opening the gifts was so exciting and so much fun! She was thrilled and very grateful.


Wow! God is so good!


It brought great joy to my heart as I watched my sweet girl enjoy this new and special experience. She was very gracious. She delighted in every gift and was sincere in her gratitude. I was very proud of her. A fine young man has won her heart, but Jesus captured it first.
And for that, I am so very grateful.

what's in a name?

One night at dinner a few days ago, my husband asked me if I was going to change the name of my blog. I had already had this thought, but I had not said it out loud. Our daughter looked at me questioningly for a moment and then when she understood his meaning, she said, “That’s sad”. You see with the death of my father, I am no longer in “the sandwich years”. Funny thing is when I started this blog in March, I knew the name immediately. I didn’t even have to think about it. But now, I am clueless. I’ve asked my sweet girl and a couple of friends to think about it and now I am asking you. For those of you who have been visiting me for awhile and know a little about me..... do you have any suggestions?
I’m going to pray about it. I know God cares about every detail in our lives. So, I’ll just wait and see if He gives the divine inspiration to me personally or to someone who cares about me.
He has already given ME a “new name”...... child of the God, the righteousness of Christ, His beloved! I know I can trust Him with this change of address! :-)

where in the world is the doctor?

I've told you before that the doctor I work for is a very
thoughtful and generous man. Last week, he and his family went on vacation. They do BIG vacations! This time they flew to Stockholm, Sweden, and then they "cruised" to several other places. One port of call was in Russia, so he bought Russian chocolate for all of us. I realize it's not a big thing, but it does tell us that he thought of us while he was on the other side of the world and, in a small way, wanted to share his family's experience with us. I can say with (almost complete) confidence.... that's as close to Russia as I will ever get!
Anyway, it was a happy surprise and it was yet another reminder of how God has blessed me with my job. It truly was a gift from Him when I started ten years ago and it continues to be today. I am grateful.

a good place to stand

I bought a new rug for the floor at my kitchen sink. The one I had was old and the stuff on the back that keeps it in place was long gone! For a while now every time I stepped on it I went "slip, sliding away..." (Is that Paul Simon I hear?) Not sure why it took me so long to think to buy something new... other things on my mind I guess. Anyway, I decided I wanted one of the foam ones. Being cushioned, they are suppose to be more comfortable to stand on. Looked several places and finally found this one at Big Lots (do you have those where you live?) for $5. It looks nice on the floor and we'll see if it makes washing dishes more enjoyable.... at least maybe I will be able to stand in one place while I do it! :-)
I am so glad God has given us a good, solid, safe place to stand. "Through Him, we have also obtained access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Rom. 5:22