What the World Needs Now is Love...

Well, it is a mere two hours away from the end of 2010...so many things to reflect on. It would take me forever and a day to put all of my thoughts down. You don't have time for that and neither do I. So please allow me to share just a few things that are on my heart at the close of this year.

In 2010 I have learned so many life-changing lessons and truths. Here are my top 20:

20. I will never be a size 7 again...ever. So get over it.

19. Restylane and Botox are NOT what they are cracked up to be. Looking like Donald Duck frightened out of his wits is really not attractive.

18. I can't remember this one...

17. The older I get, my leg hair migrates to other parts of my body.

16. When I bend down to tie my shoe, I look to see if there is anything else I need to do while I'm down there.

15. Things on my body are starting to fall off, out, or down.

14. Hair color only works on the hair on your head. (let that one sink in)

13. Napping is not a waste of time.

12. Activia is my friend.

11. All of my classmates are looking really old.

10. I am very blessed! I need to thank God every day for His mercy and grace.

9. Being a grandparent is the best thing ever!

8. Life is precious...I will not take one second of it for granted.

7. A sense of humor is a gift. Laughing is so good for us!

6. I am deeply grateful for the childhood and solid Christian foundation my

parents gave me.

5. I realize more and more that a stable, loving home life is an exception

instead of the norm. I want to give that to my children and grandchildren.

4. My husband is a kind-hearted, generous man who would rather err on the side of being taken advantage of than to be thought of as a greedy, selfish man. I love that about him.

3. I am learning that God is ever present, but I must be still or I may miss hearing from Him.

2. Life is all about relationships. They must be nurtured or they will wither and die.

1. The most important relationship I will ever have is with my Creator. And the most important relationship you will ever have is with HIM.

So, let me begin 2011 by asking you - do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? HE wants you to know HIM. HE wants to be a part of your life. Will you let HIM in? Will you experience the joy and peace in knowing that God alone loves you more than anyone else will ever love you? I hope so.

What the world truly needs is love...God's love. At least think about it.

The Light of the World is Jesus (Taken this morning as the thunderstorm moved in. 12-31-2010)

Happy New Year and may GOD richly bless you!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung on a quilt stand

with shower curtain hooks..."

Quilt Stand - Hobby Lobby - $24.99 (it was 75% off)

Shower Hooks - Walmart - $8.99

Stocking Stand - Cheaper than the one from Ballard Designs ($85.00)

Our fireplace mantle is very high, like Paul Bunyan high, so putting stockings way up there is kind of pointless. Thus began the search for a Floor Stocking Stand. I liked the look of one I found in Ballard Designs catalog, but it was too pricey and also became "unavailable". I've been watching it for 2 years now, trying to catch it on sale. Needless to say, when I saw this quilt stand on sale at Hobby Lobby, my wheels started turning and VOILA! I now have my Stocking Stand!

I think I was quite ingenius, don't you?

Have a Merry Christmas!!

The Goose is Getting Fat!

♪♪Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat♪♪... Yes, Christmas is coming! It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. Some days it seems the year has flown by, other days it feels like the year has lasted a decade. Either way, the year has been full of much activity and many blessings!

This will probably be my last post until after Christmas, as each day gets busier and busier...with wrapping, cooking, traveling, and finally settling in for a nice cozy Christmas right here with my DH, kids, kidlets and dogs!

Below you will find just a sampling of the Christmas spirit in progress...

Sanni and Her Kidlets
Nativity

Even Cowboys Like Christmas!

Le TreeLe Bird in Le TreeLe Star in Le Tree

Le Star in Le Basket

Le Stairs

Le Stairs Again

Le Angel on Le Stairs

Inside Looking Out

Buddy Helps Me Wrap

The Cutest Dog in the World

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

May God richly bless each of you this Christmas and throughout the New Year!

Blog Slacker

(Hand slap) I have been such a "blog slacker" these past few weeks...and probably will be in the weeks to come with the holidays upon us! Already my head is spinning (not in an Exorcist kind of way) from the thought of so many activities and things to do before Thanksgiving and Christmas! So, once again I will let pictures fill in the gaps.

The last time I posted, I shared Ayla's 3 month photo shoot. Below you will find my other three kidlets' latest photos. Natalie is 5, Parker is 3 and Sawyer is almost 6 months old. I must say, I believe all four of my grands are just beautiful!

NatalieParker - a little stinker?
Sawyer

And then there was Halloween - we had our annual Fall Festival at church. This year's theme was Characters from the 70's, which was great fun! We had a great variety of characters and a great turn out! Wish I had room for all the pics!

Here is a sample:

Little Miss Ayla's flower costume...though not a "Flower Child".

Buddy and I have been on a few adventures in the past couple of weeks...looking for pretty Fall colors. It's been so dry here, we have mostly browns. :-( But we have still found plenty of fun things to photograph. It's nice just to be out in the nice cool weather.

Mr. Photogenic

Every year as the grass begins to turn after the frost, it transforms the yard into this intricate maze of unusual patterns. It's a very unique sight, especially from the upstairs balcony where you can view the entire yard. This is a close-up of our grass art. Pretty isn't it? In another week all of the green will be gone and the yard will become a brown, brittle minefield of annoying bits and pieces...that get stuck in Buddy's hair...especially when he decides to roll around in it...which is quite often...then it takes forever to pick it out...sometimes requiring a bath...which in the winter can dry out his skin...making him itch really badly...blah, blah, blah.

Grass Art

It finally rained last week - less than 1/2 inch, but at least the earth got a nice refreshing drink! Every little bit certainly helps. We only need about 14 more inches to fill the ponds and streams back to normal.

Just After the Rain

Looking Through the Droplets

Today's ride-about resulted in finding this! It looks like there is a little color in them thar hills after all!

A Touch of Red

There you have it - you are now up to date. Oh, I have more, but these are the high points and you really don't want to hear about the low ones do you?

Until next time - have a blessed Fall and start working on your list of things that you are thankful for! I know I will.

In The Still of The Night

As I feed Ayla in the still of the night, rocking in my Mother's glider - I am blindsided. Very much like a big wave in the ocean that sweeps you off your feet without warning.

I soak it all in, relishing in the moment as I reflect on the onslaught of emotions stirred up in this chair. I gaze on this sweet little angel in my arms and praise God for breathing life into her, through the miracle of science, ultimately ordained by THE CREATOR.

I cry.

I cry...because the gratitude in my heart is overflowing.

I cry...because the wonder of this moment overwhelms me.

I cry...because I am sitting in my Mother's chair and I miss her terribly.

I cry...because she and Daddy are not here to see, to hold and to love Ayla.

I cry...because Ayla will never know her Great-Grammie and Grandad.

I cry...because I know HE has allowed them to see Ayla from heaven. (but selfishly I wanted to see them see)

I cry...because I can just imagine how excited they are to know that Sarah took their chair and transformed it into this precious heirloom to be handed down to Ayla someday.

I cry...because my Almighty God has granted Sarah's desire to have a child of her own.

I cry...for the struggles Sarah went through to get here.

I cry...because of the way God used her struggles to make her walk with the Lord much sweeter and stronger.

I cry...because Sarah has grown into such a precious young woman and a wonderful little mother.

I cry...because I am so proud of her.

I cry...because my heart is overflowing with gratitude for all four of my precious grandchildren - Natalie, Parker, Sawyer, and Ayla.

I cry...because I am reminded of all of you sweet women out there still waiting for God's answer to your dreams. I say a prayer for you.

I cry...because that's what women do - in the still of the night.

♥Sneak Peek♥

I just couldn't resist putting a few of Ayla's recent 3 month pictures up. Michelle Fowler does a super job!

I cannot believe that little Ayla is already 3 months old! Just like I can't believe Natalie is in Kindergarten, Parker is 3, and Sawyer is 4 months old! (their pictures coming soon)

Really, how much better does it get than to have a great husband, 2 wonderful kids and 4 precious kidlets???

Enjoy!

Honkin' Headpiece

Aaahh...it all makes sense now. This is looking familiar!

Fall Tutu

Hey! Whatcha lookin' at?

The pictures below hold very dear sentimental value for me. After my mother passed away, I had to do the "unthinkable" task of going through every box, drawer, cabinet, closet, etc., that one must do when they lose a loved one. It was such a bittersweet time...shedding lots of tears with some laughter mixed in - like when I went through her kitchen and found recipes stuck everywhere, written on anything and everything from paper napkins to pieces of junk mail. (and yes, I kept every single one, oh yes I did) One day as I was going through her bedroom, I tackled the cedar chest at the foot of her bed. It was a treasure trove of wonderful memories and heirlooms. In one box I found several items from my "babyhood". The crocheted/knitted (?) w/embroidery accents, blanket below was mine. (that was a mouthful) I'm guessing it was made by my mother or her mother. It had rust stains all over it, and some of the stitching had come loose, but I worked my Oxy-Clean magic on it, mended it, and tucked it away, as we anxiously anticipated a successful IVF in the future for Sarah and Stuart! VOILA!

Ayla and Her Rose

The baby quilt in the pictures below is another treasure I found - sewn by my paternal grandmother. She also made me an identical full-sized quilt, which I still have! How special to have this piece of my Daddy's mother to pass down. I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed when I saw these pictures, thinking about how much Mother and Daddy would have loved Ayla and how excited they would be to see her using these treasures from long ago.

I'm Just Too Stinkin' Cute!

...and Maybe Just a Little Hornery

What a blessing!

Thank

you

Lord,

for my precious family!

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

I received this today as an email. Though a few of these are "before my time", I can so relate to most of these remembrances. Very sweet and nostalgic. It makes me miss my childhood...especially my wonderful parents.

Remember When?

A little house with three bedrooms,
one bathroom and one car on the street.
A mower that you had to push
to make the grass look neat.

In the kitchen on the wall
we only had one phone,
And no need for recording things,
someone was always home.

We only had a living room
where we would congregate,
unless it was at mealtime
in the kitchen where we ate.

We had no need for family rooms
or extra rooms to dine.
When meeting as a family
those two rooms would work out fine.

We only had one TV set
and channels maybe two,
But always there was one of them
with something worth the view.

For snacks we had potato chips
that tasted like a chip.
And if you wanted flavor
there was Lipton's onion dip.

Store-bought snacks were rare because
my mother liked to cook
and nothing can compare to snacks
in Betty Crocker's book.

Weekends were for family trips
or staying home to play.
We all did things together --
even go to church to pray.

When we did our weekend trips
depending on the weather,
no one stayed at home because
we liked to be together.

Sometimes we would separate
to do things on our own,
but we knew where the others were
without our own cell phone.

Then there were the movies
with your favorite movie star,
and nothing can compare
to watching movies in your car.

Then there were the picnics
at the peak of summer season,
pack a lunch and find some trees
and never need a reason.

Get a baseball game together
with all the friends you know,
have real action playing ball --
and no game video.

Remember when the doctor
used to be the family friend,
and didn't need insurance
or a lawyer to defend?

The way that he took care of you
or what he had to do,
because he took an oath and strived
to do the best for you.

Remember going to the store
and shopping casually,
and when you went to pay for it
you used your own money?

Nothing that you had to swipe
or punch in some amount,
and remember when the cashier person
had to really count?

The milkman used to go
from door to door,
And it was just a few cents more
than going to the store.

There was a time when mailed letters
came right to your door,
without a lot of junk mail ads
sent out by every store.

The mailman knew each house by name
and knew where it was sent;
there were not loads of mail addressed
to "present occupant."

There was a time when just one glance
was all that it would take,
and you would know the kind of car,
the model and the make.

They didn't look like turtles
trying to squeeze out every mile;
they were streamlined, white walls, fins
and really had some style.


One time the music that you played
whenever you would jive,
was from a vinyl, big-holed record
called a forty-five.

The record player had a post
to keep them all in line
and then the records would drop down
and play one at a time.

Oh sure, we had our problems then,
just like we do today
and always we were striving,
trying for a better way.

Oh, the simple life we lived
still seems like so much fun,
how can you explain a game,
just kick the can and run?

And why would boys put baseball cards
between bicycle spokes
and for a nickel, red machines
had little bottled Cokes?

This life seemed so much easier
and slower in some ways.
I love the new technology
but I sure do miss those days.

So time moves on and so do we
and nothing stays the same,
but I sure love to reminisce
and walk down memory lane.

Take a moment to reflect on your childhood - I hope it brings back wonderful memories and sweet thoughts of your family. If you were not blessed with a loving childhood home, then please know that God loves you more than you can imagine. I hope you have a personal relationship with Him...and if you don't, I would love to talk to you about that.

Blessings!

The Great "Snake-adillo" Adventure

Have I mentioned that there is never a dull moment at my house? "Bizarre" just seems to follow me around. Before I tell my story, I need you to understand that I am married to a Type A personality, while I am a Type Z, (if there is such a thing) with A being the most high strung, serious type and Z being the most laid back, humorous type. You know, they say "opposites attract". I suppose that may be true...

If you would indulge me, I'd like to tell this story in my "author" persona:

(Da-da-da-dum) dramatic music cue -

It was late...time for little Buddy's, the Yorkie, "business before bedtime" walk-a-bout with his mommy, Sandra. Their ritual always included a flashlight to spot all of the creatures of the night. You see, they lived in the wilderness where bears, deer, coyotes, skunks, armadillos, snakes, frogs and spiders roam at night.

On this particular evening, Sandra was entranced by the ten eyes of the deer reflecting in the light as she shined her flashlight into the field. She carefully scanned the flowerbeds, the patio, the yard and was satisfied that all was quiet. A bullfrog caught her attention...then another. As her flashlight swooped across the mulch, something else caught her eye. Coiled up so nice and tight was a beautifully marked, very well camouflaged Copperhead. It was a wonder she ever saw it. "Dang, I think that's a copperhead," she said to herself. "They really are pretty snakes." But, she knew what must be done, so she scurried little Buddy to the back door and went inside to fetch her man.

Putting Buddy inside, Sandra and her man ventured out with flashlight/shovel in hand to deal with Mr. Copperhead. Sandra was in charge of the flashlight, which if any of you have ever held this esteemed position with your man, knows that no matter how you hold it, it's not going to be right. So, the tension was already in the air as her man repeatedly said, "Hold the light still!" "Quit moving it around so much!" "What are you doing!" "Don't get so close." "Don't you have any common sense?" (Type A)

As the shovel hit it's mark and the bottom two-thirds of the copperhead was twitching, Sandra glanced away for just a brief second. Creeping up behind her man so close they could have licked his feet were two of the biggest armadillos on the face of the earth! May I digress for a moment?

For weeks now, armadillos had been annihilating their flowerbeds. Sandra and her man had been stalking around quietly with Ninja stealth, trying to catch these creatures of destruction in the act. Nada...never a sighting...each morning revealing more and more damage. So, what's up with this? Her man is banging a shovel, they are raising their voices to one another, making the racket of a battle in progress and two armadillos come running to what...check it out??????

Needless to say, Sandra was completely caught off guard by these creatures sneaking up from behind and was so startled she shouted, "OH MY Gosh! There are two big ones right behind you!"

Did you know that it is of utmost importance to define WHAT is behind a person who is in the middle of chopping a copperhead in two? Well, Sandra didn't either until her man yelled a few choice words and jumped 6 feet in the air. (are you beginning to get a visual here?) He was some kind of mad when he realized that Sandra's warning was about armadillos instead of copperheads. (well, mad in the sense that she nearly gave him a heart attack for nothing, not because he wanted it to be copperheads) He yelled, "There's a huge difference between an armadillo and a copperhead! A copperhead can kill you! And I'm not afraid of an armadillo! You nearly caused me to have a heart attack!" (which is really not too funny because he has had a major heart attack and also has 7 stents) But for some reason the whole scene just struck Sandra as funny and she was nearly hysterical with laughter. Her man did not take too kindly to that. (keep that visual going)

The armadillos ran off in separate directions, so Sandra stayed outside with the flashlight to track them while her man went in to get the shotgun. About 45 minutes later, a few more choice words, a lecture on the "correct" way to panic - "Oh Honey, there are two of the cutest little armadillos right behind you, but don't you worry a thing about it. They are just curious and want to see what you're doing" - and following a midnight clean up operation - Sandra, her man and little Buddy went to bed.

The End.

*Notice there are no pictures included in this post. There is a reason for that, which had something to do with the "common sense" part of the discussion on "Proper Flashlight Holding 101."

Rainy Days and Wednesdays

Good Afternoon Friends!

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but we have needed rain for quite some time now. The pastures are burning up, the outside potted plants have to be watered every day, the trees are all turning brown, (so much for pretty Fall colors this year) and the ponds and lakes are all so low I keep expecting to look out the window to discover fish flopping up here to jump in the pool! But, ALAS! We had a little rain yesterday and today is a lovely, dreary, rainy day! Just perfect for brewing a hot cup of tea, grabbing a handful of shortbread sticks along with a good book, and heading to the back porch for a little R & R.

There are plenty of things I need to be doing, but seriously girls, (and boys if there any reading this) we all need to take a little time to play, right?

I love to sit on the back porch and watch the rain come in. First you see it way off in the distance...
Then you hear the pppssshhh sound ever so softly. That unmistakable, fresh smell of rain fills your nostrils as it grows closer and closer...
The sound begins to grow louder, a sprinkle drops here and a sprinkle drops there, then the downfall is upon you! I do ♥ listening to the the rain!

Finally, a little break in the downpour; the perfect time for Buddy to take a potty break, since he hates going out in the rain! I mosey over to check the rain gauge - the one that looks so lovely attached to our fence. And this is what I see!
The best part is, there is more rain to come!

I notice that I am going to have to talk to Mr. Armadillo again!
As the rain gently starts up again, there is a reminder of the One who sent it.
I almost never experience a rainy day that I don't think of Karen Carpenter's song, "Rainy Days And Monday's Always Get Me Down". (yes, I'm that old) I have been known to change the words to suit my own moods -

"Rainy Days And Wednesdays Always Make Me Smile" - just depends on the mood I'm in...

"Rainy Days And 'Tuesday'sThatIWantToGoSwimming' Always Tick Me Off" hehe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd like to leave you with a very profound quote that I discovered yesterday. It is from Tao Te Ching, which is an ancient Chinese book written around the 6th century BC. Though it has nothing to do with Christianity, with my own Christian thinking weaved into these words, it is so applicable to our lives as Christians. So, think about your walk with Jesus and ponder on these words...

Blessings!

The Majesty and Glory

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your glory

above the heavens.From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praisebecause of your enemies,

to silence the foe and

the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?You made him a little lower than the angels,

and crowned him with glory and honor.You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

You put everything under his feet:all flocksand herds,and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name

in all the earth!