Life In The Sandwich Years

a party for granddaughter #4

2012-03-04T12:22:00.005-05:00

Our younger son, our DIL, and our grandson
are expecting a baby girl in March.
Saturday, her family hosted a shower to celebrate.
They were very kind to include me,
my daughter, and Little E.

There were many lovely gifts.

Something special for her room from Gran.

And a bow holder from Little E and her mom!

Seems like we were just having parties
for the two of them!

It was nice getting together and seeing all the
sweet little girl things.
We are really looking forward

to granddaughter #4's arrival!
Can't wait to see her face,
hold her in our arms, and marvel
at the goodness of God!

it's just the introduction

2012-03-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

Before I even read the introduction to Living the Cross Centered Life, this quote from John Stott at the top of the page, made me pause:

"The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled,
but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us."

How close to the Cross do I live? Does a passion for the Gospel burn in me? Do others feel the warmth? Is the truth that Christ died for me at the center of my life?

And he's just getting started....more to come.

a time to read

2012-02-28T23:06:00.004-05:00

One thing about taking time off from work
to recover is that I have more time to read.
This book is on loan from my daughter.

I started reading it tonight.
I know already that
you'll be hearing about it! :-)

the girl in the window...

2012-02-27T18:48:00.001-05:00

with one sock!!

in good hands

2012-02-26T17:08:00.002-05:00

I spent two nights in the hospital last week after having a little surgery. I had not planned to write about this, but something happened while I was there that I have to share. The nurses at our hospital work twelve hour shifts..... seven to seven. At seven on the second night the nurse and the nursing assistant that would be caring for me came in to introduce themselves. The nurse's name was Deborah, the assistant's name was Gracie. My name is Deborah Grace! I laughed and told them those were my names and said, "I know I am in good hands!"

The truth is, I knew exactly who was holding me in His hands! In His loving sovereignty, He placed those two women in my room to remind me that He is always with me, He provides for my every need, and He knows my name! :-)

our new daughter

2012-02-21T20:13:00.003-05:00

We are happily anticipating the May 5th wedding of this lovely young woman to our older son. For 2 1/2 years, he has done an amazing job of being a single dad. But, his hope was that,God, in his perfect timing, would bring someone very special into his life. Someone who would not only love him, but his girls, also. As always, God is faithful and delighted to answer our prayers and to give us the desires of or hearts. So, in 10 1/2 weeks, she will officially become a part of our family. As far as those two little girls are concerned....she already is! :-)

look who's talking!

2012-02-17T22:31:00.004-05:00

Our Little E has a lot to say! Her mom has photo booth on her Mac, so she is talking to herself on the computer screen. Made me and the Chief laugh...so cute!

Gran's library

2012-02-15T23:00:00.005-05:00

When our kids were growing up, we did lots of reading. It started with board books, then Little Golden Books. After that was Richard Scarry and Beatrix Potter. Then we graduated to chapter books which included the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved reading to my children and that is one of the my favorite things to do with the grands.

Some of the old books survived...some still live at our house, others moved out with our children! To keep my "library" fresh and interesting, I am always on the lookout for something new or old. I like looking at antique and consignment shops, because they are inexpensive (mostly!) and I find some they don't print anymore. When I went to the mountains recently, I hit the jackpot...the most expensive was $3!

This may come as a shock, but I have never really
cared much for Dr. Seuss.(Oh my, I can hear
the gasps of disbelief and see the heads shaking! )
I know he is a beloved author, but I like a story.
All the repetition and silly words
just don't do it for me.
But I can read P.D. Eastman and Theo. LeSieg,
who are continuing to add to the Seuss library.
So, these two came home with me!

When our boys were little, Scuffy the Tugboat was
a favorite. This was one that their Dad read to them.
He was very animated and he would say "Scuffy"
with lots of feeling! They loved it!
Well,I'm not sure what happened to our copy,
but while looking through a stack of five books on a
shelf in one of the shops we went in, there was
"Scuffy" smiling up at me! I couldn't believe it!
Neither could the Hubby! When I got home, I told him
to close his eyes and hold out his hands.
When he opened his eyes, he said "Scuffy" in that
same voice he used with the boys.
I told him, "Now, you have a new crop
of grands to read it to!"

And that is just what he did when our grandson
came to spend the night last Sat!

appraising the value

2012-02-12T13:58:00.002-05:00

Our older son is getting married in May. His fiance and her mom are planning to use milk glass to hold small bouquets of flowers at the reception. So, when I went "antiquing" last weekend, I kept my eyes open for it. She has a limit of $5 per piece. Keep in mind that we don't shop for expensive antiques, we are more in the market for "old stuff". So, I was able to get her these seven pieces priced from 2-5 dollars...and only one (the smallest one) was $5. But it was cute and unique, so I got it!

One thing I've learned from watching "Antiques Roadshow" is that an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. They can appraised it's value, but that doesn't mean much if there isn't a market for it. Now, we saw much more milk glass with much higher prices....up to $22. But, I wasn't willing to pay that much because I knew before I ever started shopping that five was my limit.

I believe there is a spiritual lesson here. Sometimes in life, situations arise that give us opportunities to decide what we are willing to pay.

....will I pay the price of losing a friend just to be right?
....will I pay the price of sacrificing time with my family just to work more hours to
make money to buy things I don't really need?
....will I pay the price of a clear conscious just to tell a lie because the truth might make me look bad? or to just to keep all the change when the cashier gives you too much?

If my heart is right with God, I will know the value of friends, family, a clear conscious, obedience... and I will have already decided (like my $5 limit for milk glass) what my response will be when I am faced with those kind of choices. In other words, there will be no choice!

love those mountains!

2012-02-07T21:10:00.012-05:00

As promised, here is my report on our girl's get-away weekend in the mountains! Here is the mountain top inn where we stayed.

It was very nice with a good continental breakfast and a friendly, helpful staff.We had a room with a view which was lovely. I waited until we were leaving to take pictures, and, unfortunately, it was overcast. So, you can't really appreciate how pretty it was.

There were mountains in the distance
that you can't see.

The inn looked really impressive when
approaching it from this highway....sitting up
on the mountain.I wanted to take a picture,
but the road was too busy for that.

On Friday, we had lunch at this cute little place
in Jasper...The Carriage House.

It had a warm atmosphere and cute decor
and the smell of coffee was comforting as we came in
from the chilly, breezy weather.
The locals have their own chairs with their names
on the brass plate at the top of the chair.
I sat in Nancy's!

This pretty lamp graced our table.

This was cool hanging from the ceiling!

After a lunch of BLT's and fruit, a good cup of coffee
warmed us up before we headed out
to browse and shop!

This is one of the shops we visited in Jasper.
There were others, but I failed to take pictures.

Then it was on to Ellijay to crash at the inn
for a while before heading out to dinner.
My co-worker recommended this place.
If the grandkids had been with us,
we surely would have taken pictures of them
in this huge chair out front.
Notice the ladder you have to climb to get to the seat!

It is an Italian restaurant with a funny name....

Charlie's....doesn't sound very Italian, does it! ha! ha!

On Saturday, we were off to the town square
in Ellijay where we browsed through
four more shops.

Then, it was lunch at Cantabury's....
another cute place to eat...

...with soups, sandwiches, salads and...

DESSERTS!!!!

Yes, my friend was there, but she doesn't care
to be in front of the camera.
Love the "happy" tablecloths!

Sunday morning ,after a good night's sleep and
breakfast, it was time to head home.
We had a great time, found some treasures and
made some memories!
It was time well spent! :-)

hittin' the road

2012-02-02T17:38:00.002-05:00

I'm headed to the mountains tomorrow morning with my friend that likes to "run away" with me! We always have a great time and the Lord always guides and protects us. We have met some very nice people on our trips and we have made some fun memories! There was the time we made more u-turns than we could count, the time we had to tie my trunk closed because we had a kitchen table sticking out the back, and the time we had to tie the sliding door back on her van because it came off it's track! We always try to eat at local restaurants so we can have a new dining experience. A co-worker has already given me some ideas about that, but hotel desk clerks and shop owners are always helpful, too.

So, our reservations are made at a hotel on a hilltop with a mountain view, the directions are printed (gonna get Hubby to program the GPS we got for Christmas, too!), the camera battery is charging, and my suitcase is packed. I'll give you a report with pictures when we return. Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

a movie worth watching

2012-01-30T19:48:00.004-05:00

I watched this Hallmark movie Sunday night. John Corbett was the star and I have always liked him. So, I was sure to make time to watch it. I'm glad I did!

It is an inspiring story about a teacher believing in and advocating for his students. It retells the true story of how the very first special education class was allowed to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, AL.

It showed how important teamwork is and how much someone can accomplish when just one other person believes in them.

Reminded me of the value of co-operation and encouragement. The Lord tells us to live in peace with others and to exhort one another. He knows that will bring joy to us and to those we encounter.

If you missed this airing, there will be encore broadcasts on the Hallmark channel.

I recommend it! :-)

a daughter who serves

2012-01-28T19:35:00.002-05:00

For eight years, in a former church, I served as church hostess. I was responsible for organizing any church event or family need that involved food.

My sweet girl is now part of a church that includes many young couples. So, there are lots of opportunity for baby showers and meals when those new blessings arrives. She is involved in helping to organize both of those and is always ready to "whip" up a dinner for someone on short notice.

It brings me great joy to see her servant's heart at work. She loves her God and His people. And that's the way it is suppose to be! :-)

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another."
John 13:35

treats for the troops

2012-01-25T20:09:00.003-05:00

I can't remember if I have mentioned this before, but last summer four other ladies and I felt the Lord leading us to start a military ministry in our church. We live in an Air Force town, so the military is a big part of life here.

One part of the ministry is packing care packages to ship to our troops overseas. We call it Treats For The Troops. We assigned three or four items to each adult Sunday school class and provided a container to place the items in. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our church family. Since Sept, we have packed 40 boxes!

We have been shipping them since Oct. Tomorrow, I will ship 8 more. Because we believe this is God's ministry, we expect Him to use these boxes to make a difference in the lives of the young men and women who receive them. We put a letter in each box introducing ourselves. It tells them that we are grateful for their service, that we have prayed over the box and that we are praying for them. We also tell them that though we packed it, the package is really from our Heavenly Father who knows them and loves them.

I love packing the boxes! It's fun to think about the one who will receive it and the surprise it will be for them to get a gift from (for the most part) complete strangers. It would be great to see their faces! I am so grateful for the opportunity God has given me to be involved in this ministry. I would certainly rather have our men and women out of harm's way, but as long as they are there, I want them to know that we care.

of mice and boys

2012-01-23T21:27:00.003-05:00

Our grandson's other grandparents, Papa and Nana, took him to the pet store because he loves looking at the animals (no surprise!). Papa picked him up so he could see the cage where the mice were. There was another lady there holding her daughter so she could see the mice, too. So, the boy says, "We have mice at our house." The lady says,"Oh, do you have pet mice in a cage at home?" "No," he says."They're under our couch!"

The lady laughed so hard she had to put her child down and catch her breath. Nana was quick to explain that they live in a mobile home in the country. The lady responded by saying, "Oh, we have mice, too. But the way he said that was hilarious....so matter of fact. No embarrassment, no apologies."

One thing is for sure... the old saying is still true..."Kids say the darndest things!"

confused

2012-01-22T13:54:00.003-05:00

Here in the deep south, our winters are not very severe. We may have snow for a day or an ice storm that last a couple of days. We will have 30 degree weather for a week and then two or three week of temps in the 60' and 70's. So far, this winter we have only had a few nights where the temps dipped below freezing and no days that have been that cold.
So every year, the same thing happens...the azaleas that are on the sunny side of our house start to bloom way to early. Those warm days confuse them...they think it's spring!

The blooms are sparse, but they are there...full and pretty!

I'm sure we will have a freeze that will confuse them
even more and they won't be as pretty when spring comes.

But, it is still a nice reminder every time
I pull in the driveway...
spring will come!

out with the old...

2012-01-18T16:09:00.004-05:00

...and in with the new...dishwasher, that is! My old dishwasher finally bit the dust. It was 20 years old, so I don't think it owed any service. :-) However, it had developed some aggravating habits over the last 3 or 4 years. First, the wheels on the bottom rack would fall off. Then the door wouldn't stay up unless you latched it as if you were ready to run it. The Hubby, ever the handyman, solved the wheel problem. But the door issue was a different matter. Several fixes lasted for a short time, but about a year ago, I gave up and just kept it latched. A few months ago, it started holding water in the bottom...after a wash, all the water would not drain out. So, we had to run the rinse cycle often to keep the water from...well, you know...getting yucky!

Last week, Hubby took it out of the kitchen to his workshop and after a couple of days, signed the death certificate. Here she is awaiting her not so happy future. I appreciate all her hard work and the time she saved me, but I am not at all sad to see her go!

So, it was off to the stores to comparison shop. We bought the new one that day and Hubby installed it a couple of days later. It looks so nice and has some great features. Oh, and the door stays up without being latched.... I am very happy!

Do you think it will last 20 years?

Made me think..... I wish it was that easy to replace old habits and attitudes. Just haul the old ones to the dump, buy some new ones, have them installed, and voila! everything is new and works just like it is suppose to. But, if it were that easy, it wouldn't mean much. II Peter 1:3 says "His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to His own glory and excellence." Knowledge of Him...that requires some time and effort on our part. He has provided all we need, but we have to know Him in order to know how to take possession of it...to appropriate it.

The song "Knowing You " says:

"All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain, I have count as loss,
Spent and worthless compare to this.

Knowing You Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're my best,
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you Lord.

Now, my hearts desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and to be known as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
all surpassing gift of righteousness.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my joy, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You Lord."

"Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God,
how can you turn to the weak and worthless
principles of the world."
Gal. 4:9

Yes, how can we and why would we?

baaa....

2012-01-16T21:33:00.008-05:00

...is what our grandson's newest pets say and this is where they live,

though not quite finished.

The Hubby, our daughter, SIL, Little E and I went to visit them today.
Can you guess what they are.... goats!
Ned, Red and Myrtle.
Myrtle is the white one without the horns,
Ned is the other white one and Red, well,
he's the red one! :-)

Myrtle is the youngest and the sweetest one. She likes to be held
and to give kisses.
Our son has always been an animal lover...

and so has our daughter

She has a special way with them. Red had not let anyone
get near him until she came to visit.

Her daughter, on the other hand, wasn't so sure she
liked these strange creatures! :-)

They have a regular barnyard...
roosters and hens (the hens were shy so
I couldn't get a picture)...

...two dogs and these guineas who are
the real guard dogs! :-)

This"country boy" got a 4 wheeler from his other grandparents for Christmas.
It comes in handy when you have a "kingdom
of dogs, chickens, guineas and goats" to take care of!

It was a nice way to spend the holiday. After homemade soup and
cornbread, we headed home. The weather was perfect
and so was the company!

some "grand" bowling!

2012-01-15T16:53:00.005-05:00

The second trip to the lanes included three of the grands. Our grandson had never been so it was a new experience for him. The computer recognizes the children's names so when it is their turn, the bumpers come up automatically. That way, children and adults can bowl on the same lane. They also have a special ball that won't harm the bumpers. They did well and had a great time. It was fun watching them get excited when those pins would fall!

The ball is almost as big,as she is!

He was pretty good at rolling the ball down the center of the lane!

She got two strikes and a spare!

For a while now, the favorite place has been Monkey Joe's (an indoor inflatables playground). I think maybe bowling will be taking it's place! :-)

miracle at the lanes!

2012-01-13T17:13:00.003-05:00

I mentioned that we went bowling during the holidays, but I didn't give any details. There were a couple of very important things that happen during our two trips to the lanes. The first time it was just me, Hubby, our older son and his fiancee. None of us had been in years and so we were pretty rusty. With dropped balls, unexpected slides to the floor and gutter balls, we spent a lot of time laughing.... I mean really laughing!

The almost newly-weds.

The already oldy-weds!

Our son making sure his feet are lined up.

A few balls actually got where they were suppose to! :-)

Now, my Hubby has always been a very good bowler. He has a smooth approach and release, his ball glides down the lane spinning and hits the pins hard knocking them all over the place. But he injured his thumb last spring in a fishing accident. And though, it looks much better than we ever thought it would, it is a little mis-shapened and a little sensitive. So, he had a hard time finding a ball that allowed his thumb to slide in and out of the hole. Needless to say, he was off his game. I, on the other hand, am pleased if I break 100. So, as you might guess in almost 40 years of dating and being married, I have never outscored him in a bowling match. Well, history was made....

The 107 is his, the 111 is mine. Our son won the match with 120, but I didn't care....a miracle had happened....and I have witnesses, pictures, and, now, a blog post to prove it! :-)

We took the grands on the second trip...pictures of that next time! Hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

tea party

2012-01-11T16:55:00.003-05:00

My very good friend (and the office manager where I work) celebrated a significant birthday last week. You know the one where you become a "card carrying member"! (in the US anyway) :-) We acknowledged this milestone by having lunch at the British Pantry Tea Room. A special guest...and her mom...surprised the birthday girl!

She was really the center of attention. Everyone in the place was "oohing and ahhing" over her. She smiled and cooed...I think she enjoyed her first tea party! :-) And I think it made my friend a little less sad about turning......another year older. :-) That's all I'm saying! Happy Birthday, K!

my, look how's she grown!

2012-01-09T18:36:00.006-05:00

I can't think of a better way to commemorate my 300th post
than to celebrate the gift of our Little E.
She was really sick the week before Christmas and had us all concerned.
She has bounced back and is thriving once again.
Just look how she has grown!

One day old!

Two weeks old!

One month old!

Two months old!

So grateful she is happy and healthy!
Gran loves you Little E!

she's nine

2012-01-08T19:42:00.003-05:00

I went to Tenn this weekend to celebrate grandgirlie # 1's birthday...her ninth! It was back to Chuckee Cheese again this year. What can I say...she loves the place. It was a fun (if noisy!) time of family, food, arcade games, and gifts!

Here she is waiting on her guests.

And opening her gifts...
something to keep her warm from
her aunt and uncle to be.

Pretty clothes from her soon-to-be grandparents
who are already Granna and Papa.

A family game from our daughter, our SIL and Little E.

And sparkly shoes from Dad and his fiancee.

Just before going home...the birthday girl, her dad,
her sister and her cousin (the one with pigtails) who rode two hours with her mom to
come to the party. That was very sweet!

After church and lunch today, I headed home in dreary weather. It rained for 2 1/2 of the 3 1/2 hour trip. I was worn out when I got home, but grateful for a safe trip and a sweet visit. Sure love those grands!

who's jerumbo?

2012-01-06T15:35:00.006-05:00

A couple of folks asked to hear the story behind the nickname. It's not exciting or funny, just a part of our family history. But here you go. About two weeks before I met the Hubby, I attended Explo '72 in Dallas, Texas. It was a huge week long Billy Graham Conference for High School and College Students. About a dozen of us went from my college and we picked up about that many more from another college on the way west headed out of the state. It was along drive so we had some time to befriend each other. Somewhere between Georgia and Texas, we started adding "Bo" to everyone's name......Debbie-Bo, Cheryl-Bo, Paul-Bo, etc. Silly, but I guess you could call it a bonding thing.

Well, that was fresh on my mind and still being used by the group from my school that went on the trip. So, after a few dates, I added it to his name...a term of endearment, as they say.( After we were married, my dad even called him that!) Somewhere through the years, the Hubby decided to "country" or "southern" it up a bit and it became "Jerumbo". When the kids came along, I started calling him "dad" most of the time, so I rarely use the nickname. But he calls himself that often and signs notes and cards that way. So, there was no question whose shrimping team it would be....

"Lil' Jerumbo's" !!

the tale of the cap

2012-01-04T17:42:00.006-05:00

Thank you for your kind comments welcoming me back. Here's the story I said I would share. Every summer our family goes to the beach for a week. We spend a lot of time on the beach...playing in the sand and in the water. The guys also seine for shrimp.... something they look forward to all year. They enjoy working together...especially when the net is full!
Well, last fall our two sons and our SIL went to the National Fair that is held near here every year. In the commercial bldg where businesses sell their wares, they saw a man who sold embroidered caps. Something he had gave them the idea to have some made for their "shrimping team" and surprise Dad for Christmas. Our younger son found someone locally and had 10 caps made. I knew he would be surprised and very pleased....and he was!

"Jerumbo" is a nickname from our dating days that has hung around all these years!
The designer did a great job...look at that shrimp!

Their first year to seine on Jekyll Island was 1998.

Father and son....a great pair!

The whole team...well, almost. We girls pitch in to harvest the shrimp
from the net and we got caps, too!
But the guys are the ones who get in the water (sometimes at night!)
and pull the net.

It was a great idea and it made Dad's Christmas special.
We are gonna look really cool

on the beach in July! :-)

catching up...

2012-01-02T20:13:00.010-05:00

When you get this far behind, it's hard to decide whether to try to catch up or just start where you are. Since the holidays is what I missed posting, I am going to do a quick overview. I will warn you in advance, thee are lots of pictures but the text is brief.
I brought our youngest Tenn granddaughter home with me after being there for the play. We enjoyed her so much! We spent one morning at the park.

The rest of the family was in and out from Tues night until Sat when we had our family meal. We played, watched movies, ate..... even went bowling! But mostly we took turns holding our Little E!

Her uncle...they share the same birthday...30 years apart!

Her uncle from Tenn...this was the first time he saw her since her birth.

Her aunt loves her! She will be holding her own baby girl in March!

Her aunt-to-be loves her, too!

Sweet cousins!

Then it was Christmas! The girls with their new bedding.

The boy with one of his Mobigo games. He loves them!

New shirts...he looks like he likes them! :-)

He asked for a rolling tool box. In an effort to fool him, we wrapped one drawer!

The soon-to-be newlyweds asked for dishes.
They chose some lovely ones.

Our daughter and DIL visiting. Probably talking about babies!

Little E celebrating her first Christmas! She had been sick earlier in the week.
We were so grateful she was better!

Our daughter, SIL, and Little E!

Our younger son, DIL, and grandson.

Our older son and his family.

Our youngest granddaughter doesn't like sleeping in a toddler bed anymore.
She wanted a big bed (twin) like her sissy! She didn't quite understand why her bed
was in our kitchen! :-)

I went to visit the grandboy (and his mom and dad) New Year's Eve eve.
He rode his new bike for me!

The grandgirls stopped in for the night on their way home from their visit in FL.
Holding the baby one more time was a priority!

At two months, she heard her first bedtime story at Gran's house. It was a cute scene and made for a sweet memory! Well, that's about it. There's one more Christmas story but it deserves its own post. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday...sorry I missed most of it. Glad to be back and am looking forward to getting caught up with you!

our "star" of the show!

2011-12-14T21:22:00.004-05:00

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I traveled to Tenn to see our oldest granddaughter (she is in third grade) perform in her school's production of "Beauty and the Beast". She was in the choir and they did a wonderful job. They had to memorize all the songs and be animated as they sang. Our girl really got into it....we couldn't take our eyes off of her! The actors were fourth and fifth graders....they were great, too. It was obvious that much preparation had gone into making it a quality performance.

Here's a picture of Dad and little sister in the lobby before the show.

Cousin Emma came up from Atlanta (with her mom!) for the show!

Our "beauty" and her dad after the performance!

Flowers (a gift from her mom) for our "star" of the show!
She looks "way too" grown up!

We were all so proud!

where do i begin?

2011-12-12T21:03:00.003-05:00

It is hard for me to believe that I have been away so long. The last 3 weeks have been incredibly full and busy. With family visits, church activities, work, preparing for Christmas...I have met myself coming and going. I love it all, but there just hasn't been many moments to devote to my blog. When I did have time to post, I couldn't seem to collect my thoughts enough to write anything worth sharing.

But, now I am back and was planning to get caught up in chronological order, but something big happened last Thurs. So, I'm going to share it first.....our older son (who has the two daughters and lives in Tenn) popped the question and she said "YES"!

He surprised her at the school where she teaches first grade. Her fellow teachers decorated the conference room and kept her busy and distracted until it was time for her to find him there. When she opened the door, there he was with roses and a ring!

A little later, they went to a park where her mom and sister had set up a beautiful appetizer picnic with rose petals, candles and sparkling grape juice. As they arrived, his girls came running out from a hiding place with signs that read "Congratulations! We love You! " and "Will you marry us, too?" He said everything was perfect! He wanted her to be surprised and she was.....totally!

They are thinking about a spring wedding. I'm sure there will be lots of talk about it during our family Christmas. We are so very happy! She is precious and loves our son and his girls. We are delighted to have her join our family! It was wonderful to see how God brought them together at the perfect time.... and how He has confirmed in their hearts the decision to marry and build a life together. So glad each of them had the wisdom to wait for the one He had chosen! :-)

remembrance

2011-11-18T23:21:00.002-05:00

This week, we Americans are planning to gather with family to celebrate Thanksgiving and to remember all the blessings we have received as individuals and as a nation.

On my way to Tenn today, I was listening to a Matt Redman CD that included this song.

It speaks of communion and how we gather at God's table to remember Him. It seemed appropriate that at this time of thanking Him for His blessings, we ought to also remember His sacrifice that made our knowing Him possible.

Remembrance

by Matt Maher

"Oh, how could it be

That my God would welcome me

into this mystery?

Say ‘eat this bread, take this wine’

Now the simple made divine

for any to receive.

See His body, His blood

Know that He has overcome

Every trial we will face.

None too lost to be saved

None too broken or ashamed

All are welcome in this place.

By Your mercy, we come to Your table,

By Your grace You are making us faithful

Lord, we remember You,

And remembrance leads us to worship

And as we worship You,

Our worship leads to communion

We respond to your invitation;

We remember you ."

what kind of pie are you?

2011-11-16T18:34:00.003-05:00

I don't know how many of you might receive the Parade magazine in your Sunday paper, but there was an article this week about pies. It included the history of pies and some recipes.

As far back as 1300B.C., pies were made with meat and fish fillings by Egyptians and Greeks. Fruit pies with apples and pears were probably first cooked in the 1500s in England. When the pilgrims came to America (1600s), there were no apples, so they made berry pies. On the frontier, women put pecans, rhubarb, peaches, and huckleberries in their pie crust. Down south, nutritious sweet potatoes, that were brought over from Africa on slave ships, made their way into pies. And by the 20th Century, pie was the symbol of American plenty and national pride.

At the end of the article, there was an illustration that explained what your favorite pie says about you. So, here we go...what kind of pie are you?

Apple...independent, realistic, and compassionate

Pumpkin...funny and independent

Pecan...thoughtful and analytical

Chocolate...loving

Does you favorite pie's qualities fit you? Chocolate is my favorite...I hope mine does.:-)

baby headbands...

2011-11-11T11:15:00.005-05:00

...I don't know who thought of them, but he/she was a genius! About 45 years ago, when my niece was born.... with no hair... her mom taped bows in her hair hoping that would help people recognize the fact that she was a girl! Twenty four years ago, I did the same thing when my baby girl arrived with only a little "peach fuzz" for hair! I'm not sure what took so long, but a few years ago, I started seeing these adorable baby headbands in the stores. Our four year old grandgirl had some and, now so does our "Little E"!

photo shoot with mom :-)

all dressed up for her first visit to

the pediatrician.

If that's not adorable...I don't know what is! :-)

baby bounty

2011-11-08T08:36:00.003-05:00

I took this week off from work to spend the days with my daughter and our newest granddaughter.......trying to help out where I can. My daughter is doing well and the baby is growing and sleeping pretty well for an eleven day old! :-) She took to nursing easily and is growing....had gained 8 ounces at her one week check up. She smiles a lot and the only time she really cries is when she is hungry. It is so sweet to watch my baby girl caring for hers! :-)

Every time I go in the nursery, look in the drawers and the closet, I am overwhelmed at the blessing of family and friends who have been so generous! The child wants for nothing!

It reminds me of the way God cares for me. Phil. 4:19 says "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." And He has proven Himself over and over again. As, my friend Danna said this morning....Great is His Faithfulness!

old friend, new blogger

2011-11-05T21:15:00.003-04:00

My long time friend, Danna....the seamstress, the painter, the candle-stick mak...oh, no that's one of the few things she can't do (ha! ha!).....has joined the world of blogging with her blog, Dan-na Bug-le. Because we all remember what it was like getting started, I hope you will pay her a visit.
I have told her much about all of you,
so I know she will be delighted to meet you! :-)

as the goose flies

2011-11-04T06:50:00.003-04:00

One day this week, as I drove home from work, I saw geese flying across the sky in their "V" formation. No matter how many times I see that, their efficiency still amazes me. They are like-minded with a common goal. They know each others' strengths and make the most of them; and each others' weaknesses and compensate for them. They support and protect each other. They know when it is time work and when it is time to rest. They understand their directions and they know exactly where they are headed.

We could learn a lot from geese....as we function in our families, in our work place, and in the Body of Christ. Something to think about! :-)

here they are...

2011-10-31T20:31:00.003-04:00

...more pictures of our sweet new granddaughter...

being adored by her mom...

and her dad.

Our younger son holding his niece and his
"best birthday present ever"!

Nana (our SIL's mom) holding her for the first time..
her first grandchild! :-)

My Hubby holding her close...

and me and our grandson getting to know
our "Little E"!

So happy she is here. So happy she is healthy.
So happy our family is growing!

"Children are an heritage from the Lord. Blessed is
he whose quiver is full of them."
Psalm 127:3,4

she's here!

2011-10-29T14:16:00.005-04:00

She arrived at 11:36pm on Friday, Oct 28. She weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long.

Mom (our daughter), Dad, and baby girl are all doing fine.

She was born on our younger son's birthday. He said she is the best birthday gift he ever received!

So grateful for God's amazing gift of life! More pictures next time!

guest post by the mommy-to-be : the finished nursery

2011-10-25T12:47:00.016-04:00

Well, I was supposed to do a post for some
individual nursery projects, but here I am,
just a few days from my baby being born,
and I have not gotten to those posts.
So, instead,here is a post of the COMPLETED nursery.
(Hallelujah! Didn't know if it would happen.)

Here is the changing area.

The picture is a sonogram of her
at 20 weeks I believe. Below that are the words to the
first stanza of one of my favorite hymns.
We also used it at our wedding.
It's called Children of the Heavenly Father:

Children of the heavenly Father,
Safely in his bosom gathered,
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven,
Such a refuge e'er was given.

That's a mirror hanging from the "E"....what you see
in it is the reflection of the crib!

The crib!

My husband's grandma had a friend crochet this.
I am amazed by it!

Love, love, love this recliner! I was close to
getting a glider because that's what you
get for a nursery, but I decided I wanted something
I could really snuggle up in with my baby girl.
It's so soft and comfy!
And of course, the beautiful quilt my friend made. :)

These little shelves are spices racks
that I got from IKEA for $3.99 apiece!
Painted them white and there you go!
Do you think the girl has enough bows?

And how about some headbands?
For this I just bought some ribbon,
cut one long piece and six shorter pieces
to make the little flowers at the end.
I got the mini clothespins at Michael's.
Probably cost me about $7. Pretty cheap and cute!
And Ellison's wonderful Gran is responsible for
the beautiful creation above it! She surprised me
with this using fabric I had picked out for other projects.
I love it!

Below is the bookcase I promised
another post about but never got around to...oh well!
I had bigger plans for it, but they proved
more difficult than I originally thought.
So we have a white bookcase!
The window I found for $12 at an antique store
and painted it myself freehand!
Not the most impressive thing ever, but I like it
and I hope my little girl will too!

This is the chest of drawers featured in my
first nursery post.
Looks pretty great in the nursery!

Closeup of the stuff on top. Baby pictures
of me and my husband and the first ultrasound
picture of our little blueberry!
My mom made the runner and
found the lamp. The jewelry box on
the right was mine as a little girl!

And last but not least, the curtains,
also sewn by my mom, the seamstress!
My husband had the idea to cut off
the bottom of the curtains over her crib
and use those strips of fabric to make the tiebacks.
He is so resourceful!
I got the vase next to the window
from IKEA for $5.99.

So there's our nursery! I hope you've
enjoyed this virtual tour. :)
We are expecting our little one
at the end of the week.
Obviously we are beyond excited!
I'm sure you will be seeing pictures of her soon thereafter!

boy or girl?

2011-10-24T21:06:00.003-04:00

It's a girl! Our younger son and daughter-in-law found out today that it is a little girl we will be welcoming in March. Haven't heard how big brother took the news...he was sort of counting on a brother! ha! ha! But I know he will love her when she gets here.
Our daughter-in-law is still having a difficult time. Actually, she is in the hospital as I write this. The doctors seem to think that the complications she is having are second trimester related. When she gets to 20 weeks, they will subside and the next 20 will be normal. She is at 16 weeks now. So, we are praying that they are right!
Our daughter is expecting her little girl to arrive any day, so look for that announcement soon! :-)

the blanket story

2011-10-21T20:48:00.005-04:00

If you read the post about my daughter's last shower, you know that I crocheted the blanket in this picture and I said there was a story behind it.
Well, it started many years ago, before she was born. On a weekend visit from my in-laws, my MIL taught me to crochet...nothing fancy...just single and double crochet and how to read a ripple pattern. For a few years after that, I made some afghans and baby blankets. Then I got into country crafts and put the crochet away. About 5 years ago, when our second granddaughter was on the way, I suddenly remembered that I knew how to crochet! So, I made a blanket for her. I wanted this new granddaughter to have something made by Gran, so I decided to make her a blanket, too.
We were in the middle of getting our house ready to sell, so I didn't get started on the blanket until August. I really wanted to give it to her at a shower, so I knew I only had until the end of Sept to finish it. So, every evening, after dinner, I would camp out on the sofa and crochet until bed time.
After about two weeks, I had about 18 inches done. One night, my Hubby asked me to hold it up so he could see it. To my horror, I realized it was the right width at the bottom, but as it went up, it was getting narrower and narrower! Talk about a heart sinking! :-( I sat there for a few minutes grieving and then realized the only thing to do was to take it apart and start over. So, that's just what I did. But, this time I checked it after every row to make sure it was even! :-)
I actually finished it and had it wrapped a week early. She was very surprised and loved it, so that made it worth the effort. I told the story at the shower and it got a big laugh!
We find out Tues if our our grandbaby due in March is a boy or a girl So, I guess I will be shopping for yarn! This time, I will be able to start early and I will remember to check as I go! :-)

God is faithful to remind us of what He has taught us, too...."So, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." 2 Pet 1:12 I am grateful that He helps us in this way, so I don't have to always start over!

the winner is...

2011-10-19T16:12:00.003-04:00

...Rebecca from Turned Loose!
She became my very first blogger friend
when she left the first comment.
She has held a special place in my heart ever since!

She said she probably wouldn't
make fried green tomatoes, but I told her
she could wear the apron when she slices tomatoes,
chops tomatoes, or when she opens
canned tomatoes! :-)

Thanks to all of you who entered!
Hope you are having a blessed day!

my patient impatiens

2011-10-17T14:59:00.005-04:00

Our yard is very shady with large hardwoods. So, every spring I plant impatiens because they are one of a very few flowers that bloom in the shade. They are annuals that have to be planted every year, but since they have such a long blooming season, they are worth the expense every year.
I've talked about how hot and dry our summer was and how hard it was on plants and flowers and even grass. Even though we kept everything watered, the heat kept things depressed and they would wilt anyway.
Since I planted them in early spring, they had the opportunity to get their roots deep and they hung on with all their might! A few weeks ago, our weather turned cooler...low 80's, high 70's. Now, out little "patient" impatiens are growing and blooming their little hearts out! They endured the suffering and are now enjoying the reward for their perseverance.

I bet you can see a lesson for us here. If our hearts are deeply rooted in God's word.... if we can be patient and wait on God....if we have the will to persevere....and if we have the desire to be what He has called us to be....we can endure the suffering in order to reap the reward.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer."
Romans 12:12

*Remember to leave a comment by Tues
to be eligible for the drawing for the apron!

a good read

2011-10-15T21:02:00.004-04:00

I finally finished this book...
having started it a long time ago.

I know some of you have read it and Diana
has even heard the two authors speak.
It is an amazing testimony of the power of God
to change a heart and the grace of God
that changes a life. It is also tells the story
of how God can use His children when they
respond in faith to His call.

A good read!

P.S. Remember to leave a comment to be eligible
for the apron give-away drawing on Wed, Oct 19! :-)

a khaki, red, and green give-away!

2011-10-13T20:59:00.004-04:00

Okay, here it is...the give-away from juliette.
Your own personal...

khaki, red, and green...

apron to make fried green tomatoes in!

Leave a comment by next Tuesday, Oct 18.
I'll announce the winner on the 19th!

Now, here's the recipe so you will be prepared when your apron arrives. :-)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 pound green tomatoes, sliced 1/3 inch thick
1/2 cup canola oil
salt

Preparation

Place the flour, eggs, and cornmeal in 3 separate shallow bowls. Dip the tomatoes first in the flour, then in the eggs (letting any excess drip off), and finally in the cornmeal, pressing gently to help it adhere.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the tomatoes until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt before serving.

Enjoy!

now, about juliette...

2011-10-10T21:33:00.008-04:00

Well, if you have read the sign, you now know that Juliette is where the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" was filmed. After the filming was done, the buildings used in the movie were remodeled and, since then, the little community has been a popular place for tourists to visit, shop, and eat at the real "Whistle Stop Cafe"...home of the real fried green tomato!

If you have seen the movie, you'll recognize that

this is the "Whistle Stop Cafe" that Idgie and Ruth owned,

this is the cabin where Smokey Lonesome stayed,

and this is the pit where they made that
famous BBQ!

Across from the cafe, there are cute gift
and antique shops to browse through.
They were all decorated for the season.

There isn't a real depot...

but the tracks where (in the movie) the first Buddy
was killed and the second Buddy was hurt
are still there...

...and the train still goes by. Had to shoot quick
to get this one! :-)

I went in the cafe to get an order of the tomatoes.
This was the sign that greeted me at the door.
I think their southern hospitality could use some work! :-)

Since it was lunch time, the place was full.
So, I couldn't take many pictures.
There were lots of old things on the wall and
the booths and the counter are made from
beautiful old wood.
But I did manage to get this one of an
old shoe shine stand...

...and the movie poster.

I paid for my order (pretty pricey, but, hey, they were
for the Hubby), walked by the geraniums on
the front porch, and headed home.

It was an enjoyable stop....glad I made it!
So, now you know why Juliette is famous. :-)

Here's something I learned after I got home
On Feb 14, Juliette offers a dual postmark
with Romeo, Michigan. Romantic, huh?

Next time, a give- away from Juliette!

catching my breath

2011-10-09T16:38:00.007-04:00

Sometimes, I just need to get away from
responsibility for a couple of days.
So, that's what I did this weekend.
I went 45 mins up the road to the same
little motel I went to about this time last year.
It is near a favorite state park where our family
has camped for years...High Falls.
I've written about the hot, dry summer
we have had. I saw evidence of it at the park.

A dead tree...

So little water coming over the dam,
that the geese were sitting on it....

and the rocks, that usually have water rushing
over them, were dry and completely visible.

But, there was some color to see...

and the lake is still lovely and busy
with fishing and boating...

and the geese are still friendly!
These were right at my feet as I
sat in my chair reading my book. :-)

I feel rested and refreshed and prayed up!
It was a good time away!

On the way home Sunday, I took a little detour
and made a stop here.
Without research, does anyone know what it is
famous for??

I'll tell you all about it next time!
Thanks for dropping by!

cinnamon goodness!

2011-10-06T17:18:00.005-04:00

I just took these cinnamon muffins out of the oven a little while ago. They are soft and moist and they made the entire house smell good!
I have made them many times and they are always a hit! My Hubby especially enjoys them. Sooo good with a cup of coffee! Yum!

Now the confession....

Yep, straight out of the box! :-) But, for $2, a couple
of eggs, a little oil, some milk, and a few minutes
of your time...you get 12 large delicious muffins.
A wonderful thing when you are short on time :-)
One thing I do differently than the instructions...
rather than sprinkling the streusel on top of
of the muffin, I mix it in with the batter.
It flavors the whole muffin...
much better I think!

Now, that things have calmed down
and everyone seems to be doing well,
I'm going away for a couple of days.
Next weekend, our son and his girlfriend will
be visiting and we will be going to the fair.
Then all our attention will be focused
on the soon arrival of our baby girl's
baby girl! So, it seemed to be a good time to
get away, catch my breath, and receive some
refreshing from the Lord.

I pray you all will have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you
and give you peace."

a happier heart

2011-10-05T15:41:00.003-04:00

Our DIL had her surgery Monday and
is going home today.The pace maker is working well,
she is feeling much better, and the baby appears
to be fine with a strong heartbeat! PTL!
She will have a time of recovery,
but hopefully, after that, she will be able to enjoy
the remainder of her pregnancy.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed.
You are a special blessing in my life! :-)

"The prayer of a righteous man (or woman!)
is powerful and effective."
James 5:16b

parties 3 and 4!

2011-10-04T14:11:00.009-04:00

Yes, there were two more showers this past weekend!

Our daughter has been overwhelmed
with the kindness,generosity, and love demonstrated
to her, her hubby and their baby girl
during this special time.There are lots of pictures,
so I will keep the text short!

The party on Saturday was an office shower.
It was held at a local restaurant.
Everyone ordered lunch and dessert
was served afterward. Here is the table.
It was bright with the sun coming in,
but it was all pink and white!

The dessert was these cute cupcake rattles!
Adorable and delicious!

If you noticed the 3 pictures on the
table...one was a "mommy"
baby picture...

... a closer look...

...and one was a
"daddy" baby picture...

...and the third was the baby's sonogram picture!

This is the thoughtful friend who planned it all...

...and these are our sweet co-workers and
friends that attended.

There were tub things...

...and practical things...

...really cute things, and many other very nice things!

Yes, it is and we re ready for her to come!

Sunday, the young women from her church blessed
with a lovely get-together. They made sure she had a
comfortable chair and that it was decorated
with festive balloons!

There were beautiful and tasty cupcakes...

...and a yummy lunch!

An adorable outfit from "Nana", our SIL's mom.

A crocheted blanket from me...yellow
to match her nursery.
(There's a funny story about the blanket that
I will have to share later! :-)

And receiving blankets and onesies folded and put
together to look like cupcakes...with coffee filters
used as the cupcake liner! So cute and creative!

She received other sweet and practical gifts and
some useful advice from new moms in the group!
The young woman in the middle is the one who made
the "cupcakes" above.

I forgot to take a picture of the hostesses as a group,
but they are in the pictures!

Here is the cutest and youngest guest....

... and the two oldest! But, that's okay because we are
Nana and Gran!

Two wonderful and fun parties. Two days filled with
love, laughter and blessings!

please pray

2011-10-03T08:38:00.004-04:00

The meds our daughter-in-law was using for her
heart issue did not work. So this morning she
is receiving a temporary pace maker.
The hope is that, after the baby is born,
they will be able to remove it.
Please pray for her, the baby, our son,
and the doctors that are caring
for her.....that they will have wisdom
and the expertise that is required to do what
is best for her and the baby.
We know God has a plan and
we are trusting in Him.

baby party # 2

2011-10-01T17:52:00.010-04:00

Twenty four years ago, you were a baby girl also
And I loved dressing you up from your head to your toes.
You were precious in pink and adorable in blue
Yellow, green, and white suited you, too.
There were hair bows (no headbands back then) and cute little shoes
And you had socks with ruffles and ribbons, too.

I know styles have changed...even baby girls are cool
But I know sometimes you like things
that are "old school".
So, open your gift and be surprised once more
For soon you'll be able to dress your little girl in clothes that were yours!

That's the poem I gave her with the first part
of my gift. She was surprised and very happy
that I had kept them!

This is part two...some new outfits.

This was one of the cutest gifts...a little tutu top
with leggings. She already had some little socks
that look like ballerina slippers. So, she now has
the complete ensemble:-)

This was from the baby's great grandmother.
She ordered it from a local lady who hand makes
beautiful baby items. This little "sac" came with
a burp cloth to match. Really sweet!

She said this was the gift that "kept on giving"!
It was mesh laundry hamper filled with all kinds
of useful things!

She received many more lovely gifts...these are just
a few. Again, folks were very kind and generous!
Mommy was very blessed!

Here's the lovely table...not so baby this time, but very feminine!

The cake was gorgeous! It was designed to match
the napkins. It looked like porcelain and it was
amazingly delicious...
rich and moist!

They used the colors of her nursery...

And served tasty refreshments!

These are the precious long-time friends and

sisters in Christ who hosted this special celebration.
They have known and loved the mommy-to-be
her entire life or much of it. They have always
been a part of the big events in her life.
She loves them all!

It was a wonderful day and such a blessing for me
to share it with my my sweet girl!

Doesn't she look happy? :-)

a party for our baby girl

2011-09-28T01:08:00.008-04:00

On Saturday, friends and family of the daddy-to-be
gathered to honor the soon-to-be-born baby girl.
The mommy-to-be, my sweet daughter, was pretty in purple and was so excited!
She had really been looking forward to the day. The food table was gorgeous!
It was a 10 am shower, so brunch foods were served.

A diaper cake assembled, by her hubby's sister

and his mom, was a special surprise. It was adorable!

Everyone was so generous...look at all the pink! :-)

These hand puppets were a favorite in the gift
from her hubby's sister-in-law.

Our girl has always loved books and she wants
her girl to love them, too. So, she was happy to get
these classics. "Little Bear" brought back sweet
memories of her dad reading it to her
when she was little. There was one story that they
would act out together.
Such fun!

There were many pretty"girlie" outfits, blankets,
socks, and the always popular and practical onesie!

The stuffed rabbit plays a lullaby and is 21 inches long
...the length of a newborn. So, they can practice
holding a baby by holding him!

Her hubby's sister discovered the "I Love Auntie"
clothes at Target and we decided she bought
them out...in graduated sizes, too!
One said "Me and Auntie means BFF". So sweet!

Here's Nana (Hubby's mom) and his sister-in -law.
Happy smiles! :-)

Nana and her mom with the "mommy".
This is the first grandchild for her hubby's family,
so they are,as my daughter says, "over the moon"!

These are the kind and generous ladies who hosted
this lovely and fun shower of blessings.
God bless you all for your kindness! :-)

Next time, Sunday's party!

he's there all the time

2011-09-24T23:33:00.004-04:00

God Of Our Yesterdays
by Matt Redman

When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there, Lord
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we'd ever live in peace again
You were there, Lord
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes

So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread
You'll be there, Lord
We will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough to see us through
You'll be there, Lord
You'll be there in the struggle
You'll be there in the fight
You'll be there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes
We thank you - for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you - for peace in our hearts
We thank you - our joy as tomorrow comes
We will trust you, God

You're always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You -
The one who was and is and is to come

We praise you- the God of our yesterday
We praise you- the God who is here today
We praise you-the God as tomorrow comes.
We thank you-for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you-for peace in our hearts today
We thank you- our joy as tomorrow comes
We will trust in you, God.

too early soup

2011-09-22T23:26:00.002-04:00

We had a few 70 degree days over the weekend and the first of the week. So, I made the first soup of the fall. It was delicious and the mini corn muffins were tasty, too. Sadly, the temps went back up and so did the humidity. Ugh! So, soup doesn't sound so appealing anymore. :-(
But I made a huge pot full so we have to eat it until it's gone. Or maybe I will take Ellen's advice and share it with the neighbors. :-)
Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed weekend. I'll be attending two baby showers for my daughter. So, there will be pictures to share next week!

throw. it. away!

2011-09-21T20:52:00.005-04:00

I have had a small table top/bed top ironing board for a long time. I use it all the time for quick presses. It was looking pretty bad...actually very bad. The padding had disintegrated and the cover was discolored, ratty, and had so much starch on it, it was almost as stiff as the wooden board it covered. I talked about replacing it. My daughter told me you can just buy the covers. I priced them...they cost as much as a whole new board. Every time I used it, I thought..."Why don't I throw this one away and get a new one?"

For my birthday, my girl gave me a book and this....

She said , "I know this is a random gift, but I saw it in the store and remembered how pitiful yours is." I laughed out loud...and was tickled by her thoughtfulness!

Why do we do that? Hang on to old, worn out stuff that just needs to be THROWN AWAY? Especially when it can be replaced inexpensively which would make our work easier and more pleasant.

Reminded me of the way I hold on to old habits and attitudes that are not beneficial or healthy. I know they are old and worn out.... they aren't good for me anymore. My life would be easier and more pleasant. Why don't I just throw them away? A friend once told me that it only takes 6 weeks of doing something to make it a habit. (She learned to drink black coffee that way...she was trying to eliminate the extra sugar in her diet.) So, it can be done! The question is...do I have the desire and determination to make the changes?

God says ..." My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is
made perfect in weakness."
II Cor . 12:9

So, if I ask Him, He will help me make those changes. He will show me what old things need to be thrown away, and what new things should replace them!

here's my friend...

2011-09-20T21:56:00.003-04:00

...the sewer, the painter, the candle stick maker. Well, a sewer and a painter anyway! :-) She is the one who helped me paint the closets and make the valances. God has gifted her with many talents and abilities. She sings, she dances, she does sign language and she is an artist. She also teaches school and is a pastor's wife. We have been friends for 32 years. We have been there for each other for the birth of our children and for their weddings. We have also seen each other through the deaths of our parents. She is faithful to her God, dedicated to her family and her church and loyal to her friends. I have been blessed to know her and to call her my friend and my sister in Christ. I hope we have many more years to pray and play together!

fervent and righteous prayer

2011-09-19T19:50:00.002-04:00

Not much to say today except that God is good and I am so grateful for Christian friends who are faithful to pray. I know we were bathed in prayer last week and that made all the difference. Through the years our Heavenly Father has proven Himself faithful to us over and over again. He did it again during this most recent anxious and trying time.
In Sunday School yesterday, our teacher said something that resonated with me. We were talking about how to talk to non-believers and he said, "Remember one thing, no one can argue with you about what God has done in YOUR life. No one can discredit that. They may not believe in God , but they can't tell you that what you know to be true, because you have experienced it, is not real."And you know what.... that is the truth! If that doesn't give us boldness, I don't know what will!

So glad I can trust Him with everything...my life, my family, our future. He is the only one who always keeps His promises and whose plans for me are always good. What a comfort!

"For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding YES!
And through Christ, our Amen!, ascends to God for His glory!"
II Cor 1:20

the hiccups

2011-09-16T18:05:00.004-04:00

I got a text from my daughter last night who is 7 1/2 months pregnant. She said the baby had the hiccups for several minutes and her entire belly was
shaking! :-) That was pretty disruptive for her sweet mama.

We had a case of the hiccups this week...an unexpected event that changed our plans. Our DIL, who is expecting our 5th grandchild in April, was admitted to the hospital last Sunday. She was having these "spells"....a little like passing out, except.... she knew what was going on but could not move. At first, they thought she was fainting because her potassium was low, then they thought she was having seizures because her heart was actually stopping for 11 seconds. So, on Monday, they rushed her (well, not really! It took them 4 hours to make arrangements and transfer her 30 miles!) to a nearby hospital that has a highly respected heart center. The plan was for her to get a pacemaker. At midnight, the doctor there said, "I think we may be rushing things. Let's slow down and do some more tests before we do anything as drastic as a pacemaker." They did their tests, talked about possible bed rest (6 months...that would be very hard!), then they decided to try a drug. It seems to be making her heart behave, but (as always!) there are side effects...headaches and nausea. Of course, she would rather live with that than have surgery. After observing her for two days, they sent her home today with a heart monitor to continue to keep track of how she is doing.

My son was getting a little frustrated with all the "guessing" by the doctors, but I had many praying for the doctors to have wisdom...I believe that's why they kept pursuing an answer and that resulted in a change in their plan of treatment

So, now to our "hiccup". Hubby picked up the grandboy on Monday afternoon so our son and her parents could be with her. He spent two nights with us. I already had a trip to Tenn planned to keep our grandgirls for a couple of days while our other son was on a business trip. Tues night, the Hubby decided he would go with me and we would take the boy with us. With things still up in the air, we felt that keeping him was the most helpful thing we could do. So, since Wed, we have been taking care of all three of the grands. We are back home now....and all three came home with us! The boy has gone home ...the girls will be here until Sunday when they will go back home with their dad who is coming here after attending a UGA football game on Saturday.

We are so very grateful that our DIL is doing better and are hopeful that the meds are the answer. We are also thankful for all the prayers that were lifted up for her. God certainly showed Himself strong on her behalf. We were also happy to have a week with our grands and to be able to help out until the "hiccups" were over! :-)

before sept 11 was 9/11......

2011-09-14T17:42:00.008-04:00

...it was my birthday. Needless to say, it hasn't been the same since 2001. As kind and thoughtful as family and friends are, there always seems to be a shadow over the day. Well meaning people would say things like..."Oh, I'm sorry you have the bad birthday. But, at least no one can forget it." It's hard to feel good about celebrating when most everyone else seems so somber.

I knew I would have to avoid the TV and newspaper this year being that it was the 10th anniversary. But for weeks, it has been everywhere....on the cover of magazines at the grocery store check-out, on billboards, on the radio, even in my mailbox. I grieve over the events of that day, too. It was a terrible, senseless attack and I will never forget it either. But, like most folks look forward to enjoying their birthday, I would like to enjoy mine.

Of course it was mentioned in Sunday School. But our teacher did say this, "As horrendous as it was, just think how bad it could have been." How true! When you think how completely those terrorist took us by surprise...they could have been in planes all over our country. Many more thousands could have been killed. Only the hand of God kept our land from bring completely destroyed.

So, in the years to come, I will continue to remember Sept 11 as my birthday and as a day of great tragedy, but, most importantly, as a day when God chose to demonstrate His great mercy to us.

"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen.

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:1 &10

a sweet september saturday

2011-09-11T01:10:00.014-04:00

We hosted this event at our church Saturday. About 200 women of all ages attended the one day conference.

Travis Cottrell is a wonderful praise and worship leader and, of course, no one teaches like Beth Moore. She is most definitely one-of-a-kind!

I invited four of my friends to come and they did!

Rather than eat the boxed lunch that was available
to purchase with your ticket, I made reservations
for us at the "British Pantry and Tea Room"
just a couple of blocks down the street.

The cute chalkboard listed the sides for the day
and one of the desserts that was available.
Notice that they are on Facebook...
that cracked me up!

Three of my friends ordered the
Coronation Chicken Salad
with curry cream sauce,three pasta salad,
and garden salad pictured below.
One friend and I ordered a Spinach, Cheese
and Tomato Quiche,
garden pea salad, and garden salad.
Not sure how I missed taking a picture of ours!
It was all very tasty and lovely to look at!

For dessert, I ordered a scone with lemon curd and
devonshire cream. I had never had a scone before.
I was a little surprised that it was just a biscuit! :-)

Another dessert was a Strawberry trifle.
It was pretty in the glass
and the sprinkles on top made me smile!

And last, but not least, a chocolate meringue
with fresh peach slices and cream.

This was the tea service they brought to the table.

The tables are pretty with royal purple and white
tablecloths and napkins and fresh flowers.

As I said, it is also a pantry, so they have
British food items for sale.

And, of course, china tea cups and mugs.

This was one of my favorites...lily of the valley.

More lovely flowers.

And there were British souvenir type items.

Naturally, Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth
presided over the whole affair! :-)

One last parting shot before returning for the afternoon
session with Beth.

Worship, bible study and breaking bread
with precious friends...
I can't think of a better way to spend a September Saturday!

fun night at the ball park

2011-09-08T17:59:00.007-04:00

A few Fridays ago, we went to another Braves game. Some friends got a BOGO deal on some tickets and invited us to go. The seats were on the club level.... which means you get some perks. Our seats were in the covered area, so you are in the shade and protected if it rains. To get to our seats, we went up an escalator, through some glass doors (where our tickets were checked) into a large air-conditioned corridor. Aha! This is where the good food is .....pasta, barbecue, steak sandwiches, even sushi! Comfortable places to sit, restrooms with NO LINES....it just kept getting better and better!

We arrived early, so we ate first.....

The guys had barbecue. They got all this for $9!
A hot dog and a coke is $10

The girls got pasta. A chef...tall hat and all...
cooked this to order for us...$8!

The walls are decorated with murals and
interesting facts about the history of the Braves.

The white doors below lead to private "boxes" that are
enclosed with glass and have a/c and the food
and drinks are served by waitstaff.
At $175 per person, don't think we will ever be sitting there!

We found our seats by going down a short hall off the corridor
through a door and back out in the heat...
and it was hot!
Before the game, these young people walked
and played from outfield to outfield along the base lines.
They got the crowd going!

Earlier in the year, the Braves won the 10,000 game
in their history.....quite a milestone. Not many
franchises have done that.
Not sure what the count is now, but....

...they added one more that night!

They have fireworks every Friday night, so we
stayed for that...and they were great!

It was a fun night...good company, good food, good seats,
good game! Go Braves!

being equipped

2011-09-06T19:38:00.004-04:00

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared before-hand,
that we should walk in them."
Eph. 2:10

From Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity"...

"In different translations of this verse, we are described as God's workmanship or His handiwork...or even His masterpiece! Bask in that for a moment. Some of us can get hung up on the "good works" mentioned later in the verse because we start thinking that maybe we are qualified or capable enough to pull those off. But guess what? Our Lord not only created us perfectly for that purpose, but He equips us to do the things He has called us to. He has even prepared specific assignments for us! Like a Sunday school teacher who helps her preschool students make a craft. She doesn't set them loose with art supplies and expect them to come away with a painting that rivals the Mona Lisa. Instead she chooses a project within their capabilities, prepares the supplies ahead of time, walks them through each step, and provides help when necessary. Those young students are set up for success. How much more will the God who created us...and who views us as the pinnacle of His creation....lovingly help us fulfill His purpose for us?"

So all I have to do is trust and obey!

Dinner at the Ronald McDonald House

2011-09-05T19:27:00.004-04:00

A while back, three friends and I had the privilege
of providing a meal for the families staying
at the Ronald McDonald house in a nearby city.
They all had children in the Childrens' Hospital there.

Since it was summer, we decided to grill hot dogs
and hamburgers and compliment them
with good side dishes.

Baked beans, cole slaw, pasta salad, chips,
and all the trimmings for the burgers and dogs!
And two kinds of homemade ice cream for dessert!

The kitchen there is fabulous...
lots of room to cook and serve.

Here is our dear, hard working, and very hot
grill-master! He did a great job!

I won't go into great detail, but God certainly
went before us and prepared the way.
We were able to pray with and
minister to four families.
We were so very blessed and humbled
to be a part of what He was doing
that night in that place.
We plan to do this once a quarter,
so we are excited to see
what God has in store for us next time!

playtime

2011-09-01T16:38:00.007-04:00

Last Friday, our grandboy came to visit
for the weekend.
He started PreK-4 the Monday before,
so we were anxious to hear about his week
and to have some serous play time!
Saturday morning, we met our daughter and SIL
at some friends' house to swim in their pool.

He had a great time!

It was a hot day, so back at our house,
we played inside where it was cool.
He loves to watch Curious George
on the portable DVD player and he is never far
from his bucket of cars and trucks!

We played Connect Four...

...and Guess Who. Somehow we missed
pictures of playdough
and later, when it was a tiny bit cooler,
blowing bubbles with me
and a game of whiffle ball with Chief and his uncle.

Sunday morning, it was off to church.
That was his first question
when he walked in the door Friday afternoon...
"Can I go to your church?"
It made a Gran's heart glad! :-)

We love that boy!

where's your security?

2011-08-31T17:45:00.003-04:00

Sunday night, about 20 women gathered at our church to begin this study. I enjoy Beth Moore...she is incredibly insightful and completely REAL! It is obvious that God has done some amazing things in her life and has given her a forum to share what she has learned through her experiences.
I look forward to seeing what she has to say, but, more importantly, to what God has to say about finding our security in Him. I believe it will also be a wonderful way to make some new friends (since we are relatively new in the church) and be blessed by the things the other ladies share from their lives.
The first scripture was Jeremiah 17:7-8:

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like the tree planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit."

That seems like a good place to start!
I'll keep you posted on where we go from there! :-)

movie night

2011-08-27T07:37:00.002-04:00

A good friend and I went to the theater last week to see this movie. I had heard much about it and was anxious to see it. There was a little language t0 endure, but there were laugh out loud moments and tear filled moments, too.
It is the story of the difference one person can make when they are willing to stand and do the right thing in the face of great opposition. It is also an illustration of how important it is to have people you can trust when you are in that situation.
The characters have lots of personality and the acting is great! The movie and a Mexican dinner made for a fun night out...in the middle of the week, no less!! :-)

our little leaguers

2011-08-26T12:13:00.002-04:00

Our boys made it to the quarter finals. They played well and with character. (That is one of our boys consoling a member of another team.) We are proud of them.
I hope they learned much from this once in a lifetime experience...mostly that "it isn't whether you win or lose, but it is how you play the game!"
Congratulations, boys! You will always be winners in our book!

the new church in town

2011-08-16T20:24:00.006-04:00

For the past two years, our sweet girl and her husband have been a part of a fellowship called New City Downtown in a nearby city. For even longer than that, the church has been planning to plant a church here. Sunday night, all their praying and planning came to fruition with their first service. She invited us to come and we more than happy to go! :-)

There were friendly greeters as we entered
which made us feel especially welcome
and they served refreshments.

Our girl and one of her life long friends.

More special friends...we have known him
all his life, his darling wife since she was in
ninth grade with our girl...
they are 24 now!

Our sweet DIL and grandboy came, too!

They sang some original songs that we weren't
familiar with, but the messages were true.
I appreciate their desire to compose and sing
the "new song" that the scripture talks about.

The pastor from Downtown, the pastor from
another plant in another city, and the pastor for
this plant combined to preach one message.
Three different styles, but a common love for God
and the call to make Him known.
The screen displays their mission...
"to see the Gospel transform everything within our reach...".

It was a special night of worship.
So glad we were a part of it!

Welcome to town New City! We are glad you are here!
We pray that God will bless your ministry and
that your passion for Christ will make a difference
in our city!

a japanese visit

2011-08-15T21:13:00.006-04:00

I met some friends here for dinner
Saturday night. We have several Japanese Steakhouses in town that I have visited,
but I had never eaten at this one.
We all ordered the same thing...hibachi chicken which is grilled chicken, veggies, and rice.
It also comes with soup and salad. In other words...it was a lot of food! :-) It was tasty, but not as flavorful as I expected. I think I like Chinese better...I'm a sweet and sour gal!
But the company was great and that was the most important thing... it's not what we ate, but who we were with, :-)

Inside, it was pretty basic ...booths and hibachi grills
with benches. But, outside, they have gone all out
with their landscaping. The water wheel was turning
and the sound of the water made the
warm evening seem a little cooler.

Palm trees, flowering shrubs and statuary
filled the space on the other side of the sidewalk
from the water wheel. I like the lamp post, too.
They always look welcoming to me.

And they had their own ship.
The hull is wood, the sails are aluminum.
Pretty cool looking.

It was fun hanging out with the girls this weekend
while the Hubby was on a church men's retreat.
Baseball, food and fellowship...it's an
All American thing
even if the food is Japanese! :-)

take me out to the ball game...

2011-08-14T14:04:00.008-04:00

I had a "hot" date with a good friend Friday night!
We went to a baseball game and, even though
the game started at 8 pm....the temp was in the 90's!
Little League has always been a big deal in our city,
but in 2007,our boys baseball team
put us on the map by winning the
Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Not to be out done, our girl's softball team
won their World Series in Oregon in 2009 and 2010.
Two years in a row!
That made history...first time ever that teams
representing the same city had won
their respective Series.

Well, we are going again!
The boy's baseball team won the district
and state titles and, Friday night,
they won the Southeastern Regional game
to advance to the Series!
Two years ago, our city won the bid to have
the regional championship stadium built here.
It is a great facility and it was packed Friday night
for the final game between Georgia (that's us) and Florida.

All those folks are sitting on a grassy embankment
in the outfield!

Games are six innings long, so during the
3rd inning stretch, the umpires danced to the
YMCA song in the outfield!

As you can tell by the score (we were guest),
it was a nail biter!
There is no zero in the bottom of the sixth,
but that's what happen.
And, then, there was lots of cheering!

After the last out and a little celebrating,
the two teams gathered together
in a huddle to pray.
That was nice to see.

Here are the guys with their championship banner.
We will certainly be watching them play
on the TV coverage...
cheering them on!

And here we are....sweaty, but happy!

It was a fun and exciting way to spend a "hot" summer night!

number five!

2011-08-09T16:26:00.002-04:00

If you look at what my sweet DIL is holding in her hand, I think you will recognize it as a sonogram picture. Yes, grand # 5 is on the way! We found out a couple of weeks ago, but I was waiting for her first doctor visit to announce it here. The baby is due April 5th. Our grandson, the big brother, says it is going to be a boy and his name is going to be "Mater'! If you are familiar with the animated "Cars" movies, then you know where that came from! :-) They are very happy and, of course, we are, too. My daughter is especially excited that her baby, due in Oct, will have a cousin close in age to play with.
They came by the office to show us the picture and at that moment, the only place where we could have any privacy was a large storage closet! :-) But, we didn't care...it was actually funny! The main thing was we got to share in this happy day with them, even if only for a few minutes.
God is certainly blessing us. See I told you we needed a bigger house! :-)

"sew" much fun

2011-08-08T20:29:00.004-04:00

A couple of Saturdays ago, a dear, sweet, forever friend came over for the afternoon. She was here to help me make the valances I mentioned in an earlier post. Remember I was going to use the canvas drop cloths? Well we had a good time talking and laughing while our two sewing machines hummed. It was wonderful to get twice as much done! I failed to take any pictures of the process, but here is a sample of the finished products.

Made three of these...

...and one of these...

I highly recommend the drop cloths for a simple, casual look for curtains, pillows, cushion covers, etc. It is a great weight, has nice body so it hangs pretty, it is easy to sew....and it is cheap! Perfect for a nice window treatment for showing the house and leaving if the buyer wants them. And I am enjoying them, too! :-)

do you know what lirope is?

2011-08-07T02:53:00.004-04:00

It's a fancy name for border grass. I thought I was going to take the weekend off from working around the house. After spending almost every weekend for the last 3 months either sprucing up, cleaning up, or packing up...I was ready to rest up! :-) But Friday evening, I told the Hubby..."Maybe I'll rake out the flower beds in the front yard. They would look nicer and, after all, that would make a better first impression for prospective buyers." Never should have said that!!
I awoke very early Sat morning....not my favorite thing to do...and started working at 6:30 am. I was trying to beat the heat. That is a joke here these days...there is no beating the heat, it wins every time! Hubby joined me and decided that he was going to take advantage of having a helper. So, the raking turned into trimming, the trimming turned into trimming some more, and the trimming turned into planting lirope...about 20 ft of it...in dry, dusty dirt.
Four hours later, I was scratched and bleeding, dirty from head to toe and I was soaking wet with sweat...not a pretty sight! Oh, and my nose was running because the dust made me sneeze and sneeze and sneeze again! Hubby finally put his whip away (just kidding!) and I crawled in the house, took a cool shower and collapsed on the sofa....never to rise again until time to cook supper.....well, that's not true, but it sounds good! In the evening when I went out to water (again!), I noticed how nice it all looked and was almost grateful for the opportunity to do it! :-)
An interesting thing about lirope....it multiplies. You can thin it out, but it will just multiply again. Reminded me of the Body of Christ. Through the years, much has been done to try to destroy it .....persecution has thinned it out. But, God's Holy Spirit continues to convict of sin and call people to repentance. God's Word never returns void, so His family is always multiplying. I pray that He will give me opportunities to be a part of that by sharing my faith with others.....and for that, I will be grateful!

"...in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you..."
1 Peter 3:15

for sale

2011-08-04T20:24:00.004-04:00

I haven't mentioned this here, but after 35 years, we have decided to sell our house. With our ever growing family, we need a little more room. Although our nest is empty most of the time, they do come home frequently and it would be nice to have a space big enough to accommodate all of us at one time. Also, I have never had a laundry room....that would be nice.
We have spent the last few months fixing up and cleaning up....that's what all the painting has been about! :-) I have scrubbed and polished and dusted and de-cluttered. The hubby has painted and repaired and landscaped. When the realtor came, she said," it is show ready". That was music to our ears!
On Tuesday, a "caravan of realtors" will be coming by....representatives from the companies who are included in the multi-listing service. So, that will be a big day of exposure for our little place.
I have been wanting to move for a long time. Now, that my Hubby agrees, I believe God has a buyer for us and a house for us to buy. So, I have determined to trust in and wait on Him. We are anxious to see what happens, but we have no deadlines...so we don't have to be in a hurry. I would be happy to know that you are praying for us as we embark on this great adventure. I will keep you posted! :-)

a new revelation...

2011-08-01T17:05:00.003-04:00

...and I think I like it! :-)

a colorful plate

2011-07-29T13:48:00.004-04:00

I don't fry much these days...
shrimp, chicken strips, okra.
Most meat is boiled, baked, broiled, or grilled.
But a few nights ago, I had some
thin boneless pork chops
and fried pork chops sounded good to me!
I had fresh zipper peas from Hubby's garden,
cherry tomatoes from a co-worker's dad's garden,
cucumbers from my DIL's dad's garden,
and corn and sweet peas from the freezer.
After a little flouring and frying,
chopping and dicing, seasoning and boiling,
we had this for supper...

It was tasty and colorful!
Hope your weekend is as enjoyable as our meal was!

nursery update

2011-07-26T20:46:00.013-04:00

She's back...my guest poster, my sweet daughter, the mommy-to-be!

The Making of a Nursery: Vol. 2

Ok, I know in my last post I said that the next nursery project was going to be a bookcase. You know the old saying, Nothing is ever as easy as they say it is? Well, I don't know if that actually is an old saying, but if it were, I bet the first person that said it was talking about refinishing a bookcase. Let's just say, that work is still in progress. In the meantime, I had an in-between project: a painting!

I am not a creative person. I can copy someone else's idea, but I can't usually come up with something on my own, which is why this particular project was perfect for me! I got it from a friend of mine (I told you, I'm a copier) who now has a lovely painting in her dining room that was done the same way.

First, you need something you want to copy. For me, it was the pattern from my little lady's bedding. In the picture below of her blanket, it's the flowery part at the top.

Second, you need a piece of tissue paper and a pencil or ballpoint pen. Lay the tissue paper over the pattern you want to copy, and trace it. This is your pattern. Then you need to retrace your pattern onto your canvas. In order to avoid buying a frame, I decided to paint a yellow border around my canvas.

Place the tissue paper onto your canvas (make sure it's centered!) and trace it again using a fine point Sharpie marker. When you're done, it will look like this.

Then it's just a matter of painting and trying to stay in the lines! It works better if you are using darker-colored paints because the sharpie can show through a little with the lighter colors. If you look at mine really closely you can see some lines, but I am pretty sure no one else will study it as closely as I did. Here's my finished product!

This is hanging above her crib. I know I'm biased, but I happen to think it's beautiful!

Hopefully the bookcase will be done soon so I can post about it, but I have another project going on currently: a window! I guess we'll see which one gets finished first!

O-O-O-O-Oklahoma!

2011-07-25T20:38:00.003-04:00

Friday night found me at a local little theater enjoying the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein and watching my boss, the doctor, sing and act! His children always attend a summer children's/youth workshop sponsored by the theater. They have been doing it since they were very young. The oldest graduated from high school in May, so this was her last year to participate. The director thought it would be nice if her dad played the role of her dad especially since her two brothers were also in the play. It was a packed house and there were ten of us from the office there to cheer for our dear doctor! He and his kids did a great job....as did all the actors. Those young people were very professional and had impressive stage presence. When Doc walked on stage in his overalls, I had to laugh....never seen him in those before! :-)
I saw "Oklahoma" 32 years ago in another little theater, but I didn't remember much about it. So, it was like seeing it for the first time. Now, I know where some of the songs I've been hearing for years came from...."Oh What A Beautiful Morning", "The Surrey With the Fringe On The Top","People Will Say We're In Love".....and others. We laughed a lot and clapped a lot and though Doc was not the official "star of the show"....he was ours! :-)

a bread basket

2011-07-24T23:47:00.005-04:00

Did you know that "panera" in Spanish means bread basket? Well, neither did I..... but we finally got one in our fair city!
Saturday morning, I met two of my sweet new friends there for breakfast. We are in the same Sunday School class at the church we joined recently. We have found that we have much in common....we like to talk, we like to laugh, and we like to eat! So, whether it is Olive Garden, Cheddars, or Panera Bread....we meet, we eat and we talk and talk, and talk! No one has asked us to leave yet, but one day they did start serving dinner at Olive Garden before we left after having our lunch! :-)

Two happy faces on a hot and humid July morning.

We each got a souffle and we shared the pastry.
It was tasty!

They certainly have lots to choose from.

I was surprised that they had the souffles and breakfast sandwiches.
I was expecting sweets and bagels.

As we were leaving, Chuck saw my camera
and asked if I wanted to take his picture.
He was kidding, but we took him up on it...
really surprised him I think! :-)

We only stayed a couple of hours this time
and there were plenty of tables.
So, I don't think we caused any trouble! :-)

The most important thing we have in common is our love for God
and our desire to be involved in ministry.
So, this "eating meeting" was to finalize our plans
to provide a meal Friday evening for the families
at the Ronald McDonald House at our nearby Children's Hospital.
We are excited and grateful for the opportunity and are praying
that we will be an encouragement to those we encounter there.
We know these families have many needs.
It is a blessing that our Heavenly Father is allowing us
the privilege of meeting one.

a hymn of the marshes

2011-07-22T08:54:00.005-04:00

Sidney Lanier, a well-known poet and musician, was born in Macon, Georgia in 1842. In 1878, he began to write a set of lyrical nature poems known as "Hymns of the Marshes". They described the beautiful and vast salt water marshes in Glynn County, Georgia. Glynn County includes Jekyll Island and the city of Brunswick. In the median of Hwy 17 in Brunswick, there is a huge oak tree with a marker commemorating the spot where Lanier sat and wrote one of his "hymns", "The Marshes Of Glynn".

To give you a taste of his work, here is one stanza:

"As the marsh-hen secretly builds on the watery sod,

Behold I will build me a nest on the greatness of God:

I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh-hen flies

In the freedom that fills all the space 'twixt the marsh and the skies:

By so many roots as the marsh-grass sends in the sod

I will heartily lay me a-hold on the greatness of God:

Oh, like to the greatness of God is the greatness within

The range of the marshes, the liberal marshes of Glynn."

Sidney Lanier, 1878

I became an admirer of Sidney Lanier in high school, years before I met my husband, who grew up in Brunswick. Interesting that the poet and I would cross paths in the classroom and in life!

a bit of island history

2011-07-20T18:42:00.006-04:00

I told you that we visited the Historic District on Jekyll and that I would tell you more about it. So, here's a little history lesson for you.
Jekyll Island is one of only four barrier islands off the coast of Georgia that is accessible by a paved causeway. James Oglethorpe, who founded the Georgia colony, named the island after a dear friend, Sir Joseph Jekyll.
In 1792, Christophe Du Bignon, a frenchman, moved to the island. He and his family had purchased it to build plantations. As the years passed, the land was inherited and divided and purchase until by 1886, John Du Bignon owned the entire island. By this time, productivity of the plantations was down and he devised a plan to sell the island by tracts to wealthy families (for $600 a piece) as a place for recreation. This began the Jekyll Island Club. Families with names like Macy, Vanderbilt, Pulitzer, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Goodyear purchased tracts and spent much time on the island...biking, playing tennis (on the indoor tennis courts built by J.P. Morgan), horseback riding, and swimming. Some built mansions there...and called them cottages! The Great Depression and the beginning of WWII brought the Club era (1888-1942) to a close. In 1947, the state of Georgia, in an effort to to make the island a public recreation area, condemned it and purchase it for $675,000 from the remaining club members. The historic district covers 240 acres and is also called Millionaire Village.

One of the "cottages"!
(oops! I failed to get the name!)

This is the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.
Notice the turreted tower on the left.
This was the clubhouse where
many festive dinners and dances took place
during the club's "hey day"!
Today, on almost any evening,
guests are playing croquet on the front lawn!

This is the back of Crane Cottage.
It has beautiful grounds and is the site for outdoor weddings.

If you look to the left from where I was standing
to take the above picture, you see this.

Indian Mound Cottage...once owned by
the Rockefeller family.

Du Bignon Cottage.

Faith Chapel...another popular place for weddings.

Some of the low hanging branches on the
many live oak trees on the island.

Oleander blooms are abundant!

One of the best things about the island is that nature
is being preserved and development is
being controlled.
By Georgia State Law,
65% of the island has to remain undisturbed.
And for all of us who visit there, THAT is a good thing!

a week to remember!

2011-07-18T20:09:00.017-04:00

We had a wonderful week playing and laughing, sunning and resting, eating and exploring! Jekyll Island is our beach of choice. Hubby grew up nearby, so we went there many times through the years while visiting grandparents. It is now our yearly destination for our family vacation.
I will warn you now...there are lots of pictures, but not much text. So, here's our week in review....the family picture was taken on Driftwood Beach. It is a sign of the erosion that has taken place on the island, but it is very scenic.

Rocks have been placed there to prevent further damage...
a good place to pose for daddy and girls.

And for the grands to be adventurous...which made Gran nervous!

We went to the beach everyday,
where we played bocce ball...

And (you can't really tell) but we had water balloon battles...
friendly ones!

There were lots of bubbles blown....

and a contest to see who could find the biggest hermit crab...

...which are not very big at all!
But it was fun and we discovered another use for the frisbee! -)

The grands made dinosaur prints in the sand....

...and made sand castles...with a little help from a sweet uncle!

We took walks...

side by side...

...and sat in the shade of our canopy.

The four guys used the 99 ft seine
(this picture gives you an idea of how long that is)
to catch...

a shark, which had to be released back into the ocean...
it's the law,

a few small blue crab which just get tangled in the net
and are not big enough to bother trying to eat,

and about 15 lbs of shrimp (what we were seining for)...
which I neglected to take a picture of!
Because I was more interested in these two
catching a ride on the shrimp wagon being pulled by Chief!

And the fun being had in the muddy sand!

There were putts to be putted.....

...and holes in one to be documented...me and my DIL...
back to back on the same hole!

We visited the historic district....
more on that in the next post...

...and took our annual mother-daughter photo!

At the house, balls were hit...

...dough was molded...

...pizzas were created on the night the adults had low country boil...

...ice cream was churned...twice...
fresh peach and fresh strawberry...so yummy!

Games were played...

...and there was always some snuggling going on!

But then Sunday came and it was time to head home...
over the Sidney Lanier Bridge,

the Brunswick River,

and the beautiful Marshes of Glynn.

Then a drive past the overlook park.

We are all safely home now...with a little more tan
and many more stories to tell and memories to treasure!

I'm coming!

2011-07-09T08:20:00.006-04:00

The beach has been calling my name for a while now and tomorrow, I get to answer! Yes, it's time for our annual family vacation at the beach!

For the first time in several years, everyone is coming for the entire week, so we are all very happy about that.
The groceries are bought, the games are packed, and the suitcases are ready to be filled. I am looking forward to some fun in the sun and around the dinner table....especially the three nights someone else is cooking! :-)
So, I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed week. I'll have pictures to share when I return....rested and relaxed with sand between my toes! ;-)

charting the way

2011-07-07T21:52:00.003-04:00

We have eight walls that hold thousands of current charts at the doctor's office where I work. They are filed alphabetically by the first two letters of the last name. Example: all the last names...Albritton, Alexander, Allen, etc..... have A and L stickers on the edge of their charts. Albritton would be first, then Alexander, then Allen. Okay, you get that....sounds simple, right? Well, sometimes people forget their alphabet (ha! ha!) and that's when the trouble starts! It only takes one chart misfiled to make a mess of things. Yesterday, I found a handful of Simmons mixed in with the Simons. Once the first chart is misplaced, others tend to follow.
One of our sons always had younger boys following him. They wanted to be where he was and to do what he was doing. He was kind and included them, so he was their friend and they looked up to him. I remember telling him how important it was for him to be a good example, "If those boys are going to follow you, you need to be sure you are leading them in the right direction." I knew that if he made a bad choice, they would be right behind him, making it, too. And they would all end up in the wrong place. It was a lot of responsibility for a young boy, but if God was going to use him to be leader, he needed to learn how important it was to be a good one.
The truth is.... we are all leaders. By the life we live, we are either leading others to God or away from Him. So, are our words and actions "filed"correctly...are they in order with God's character? Are our affections in their proper place or have they been "misplaced"? My desire is to be in my rightful place, so that those who come behind me will be in theirs!

from the field to the freezer!

2011-07-05T22:34:00.006-04:00

We planted peas in our little garden, but we are only getting enough to eat as we pick. Since we like to put fresh vegetables in our freezer when we can get them, Hubby has picked peas and corn through the years at "U Pick" places. It's a bit of work but the prices are usually good. Those places seemed to have disappeared over the last few years, but just last week we discovered a new one. This morning, Hubby got a bushel of peas and two bushels of corn.

So, this evening, I had this in my lap.......

...and ended up with this.
Well, actually two of these.....
those pods were really packed!
It was too late to get them ready for the freezer,
so they will rest in the fridge until tomorrow.
We'll see how many quarts we get.

After the corn was shucked and silked and blanched and cut and scraped,
we had this....

...beautiful and sweet! Next it went into the containers.

This is a few of the 23 we put in the freezer...some quarts and some 1 1/2 pints.
I'll have to say, it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do
after a really long day at work, but....
it will be so good this winter!

"I'm proud to be an American...

2011-07-02T21:59:00.017-04:00

...where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died
and gave that right to me.

And I'll gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today.

There ain't no doubt I love this land.

God Bless the USA."

Lee Greenwood

I like to see a man proud
of the place in which he lives.

I like to see man who lives so that
the place he lives is proud of him.
Abraham Lincoln

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion,
but the tranquil, steady dedication of a lifetime.
Adlai Stevens

This nation will remain the home of the free
only as long as it is the home of the brave.
Elmer Davis

This country will not be a good place
for any of us to live in
unless it is a good place
for all of us to live in.
Teddy Roosevelt

We should never forget that men
first crossed the Atlantic
not to find soil for their plows,
but liberty for their souls.
Robert J. McCracken

and on a lighter note.....

A real patriot is the fellow
who gets a parking ticket
and rejoices that the system is working.
Bill Vaughan

Happy 4th of July!

next project...

2011-07-01T09:35:00.004-04:00

...turning this

...into this for three windows.

It seems to be the newest thing....at least in blogland! Folks are using them for curtains, cushion covers, etc. They are are a nice weight, durable and inexpensive. So, I am going to give it a try.
I'll let you know how it goes! :-)

Hope you have a Happy 4th or Canada Day
...depending on where you live! :-)