please pray

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

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

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

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

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!

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...

...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!