Saturday, February 25

I've been home all day today, except for a quick run to the store.  I am working through my little projects one by one.  Last night I worked on my music wreath...it hangs above my piano. 

                                I still have to find or make something for the center...any ideas?????

Today I've done the mundane things we all do...laundry...cleaning.  I've tried to hang my flower lamp in the sunroom, but haven't succeeded in getting a hook into the mortar of the brick wall.  I have started on my canvas project, and didn't get to the curtains.  I made a big pot of soup (how do you make a little one?), cornbread and made this cake I saw on pinterest:

                                                                Strawberry Yogurt Cake
Yum!!!!  Fresh strawberries, lemon zest and Greek yogurt...how can it not be luscious?

I'm in baking mode lately...in the mood to try new recipes!

I'm not sure if it's been a productive day or not, but I know we won't go hungry.  Ha!

Valentine Thank You

We just had the ultimate "heart" day - Valentine's Day. I saw lots of flowers, balloons, teddy bears, and jewelry. Every year I get to take a valentine treat to our widows and single folks. I love that God gave me a little ministry to those who no longer have a loved one to give them a valentine; or maybe they have never married.

I spend lots of time looking for a new treat to make. It's so much fun! I love the search equally as much as the making and the taking. I have made sugar cookie hearts - half dipped in chocolate...chocolate peanut butter fudge...and a cupcake with a chocolate heart on top. This year...

Pecan Shortbread Hearts

Jay was my delivery man this year as I was scheduled to work. I was able to add ribbon to hang them on the door if not at home. I could not have done it without him.

We are studying the fruit of the Spirit on Sunday nights. The first fruit in the list is Love. My favorite truth about love is this...

"You can give without loving....but you cannot LOVE without GIVING."

God is LOVE...and God gave His own Son for me. Romans 5:8 says that He demonstrated His love by dying on the cross in my place. Love is meant to be demonstrated. Someone has said that love is a verb...not a noun. (smile)

There is a hymn I love entitled, “Here I Am, Lord”. (Forgive me, I always turn it around because in my KJV Bible, Isaiah said, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” Isa. 6)

I love the chorus:  “Here am I, Lord....Is it I, Lord?....I have heard You calling in the night...I will
                             go, Lord...if you lead me...this is my favorite part - I will hold Your people in my
                             heart”

That is what God has taught me in the short time we’ve been in our present pastorate. My biggest ministry here is to love “our” people. It’s important to treat everyone the same...to care about them equally. This time, I have made a conscious effort to LOVE...and to demonstrate that love by giving. I try to be sensitive to the Spirit, so I will know when this demonstration of love is most needed. It is not always a physical need, and doesn't always involve food.

It means paying attention (something I am not naturally good at). Knowing someone’s favorite food, or preferences. I have one member who loves pimiento cheese! So, every time I come across a new recipe using pimiento cheese...I file it away. So far, she’s gotten pimiento cheese soup...and pimiento cheese cornbread.

The crazy part is who gets blessed the most????   Me.  Well, God did say... “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

I often fail. I get busy and I forget. My own difficulties get in the way.

Thank You, Lord, for Valentine’s Day - my opportunity to minister.

Help me to hold Your people in my heart.

New Look and Craft #2

Well, it's taken me awhile to get back to this...and you might notice my blog has a new look!  Thank you, Faith! I love it.  My new look has made me want to add a fresh post.

I promised last time to reveal my 2nd craft project.  It also involved a new look ... for the bathroom/laundry room.  What do we do in a bathroom/laundry room????  We...

Yes, we wash!  My friend, Janet Slate, crocheted the doily for me years ago - and I love it,
but it looked quite lonesome on this big wall.  I am very happy with these patterns which are
full of the colors I really like right now.

My inspiration: "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow"...the old hymn based on Isaiah 1:18.

Blessings!

January Crafting

I have fretted, literally, since we stored away the Christmas decorations, because my front door has been NAKED!  I put up a "fall" wreath before we ever got to move in - and then, of course the Christmas wreath. But what does a January, or winter wreath look like????

After looking and looking, I decided to go ahead to Valentine's Day.  I found the decoration on Pinterest that I loved - but it has taken me two weeks to get the supplies (our town is very small, and even the one nearest us - had nothing).  Finally got everything yesterday and last night I went to work.

Voila!

(Notice my turquoise mailbox?  It used to be black - I love the pop of color!)



Here is the close-up - I love the ruffly look and the way it feels...

It's not perfect - but it's exactly what I wanted.

Will share my other weekend craft next time!

Blessings!

Listening to the Thunder

As usual, I just woke up...I've fallen asleep in the recliner...missed the ending of Chopped...who won?
Never mind - it really doesn't matter.

It's raining (pouring) outside and as I sit here, I can hear the train whistle in the distance.  It's thundering...that slow, distant rumble...and at times, that crackle that tells you  there is lightning somewhere too.  Do sounds bring back memories to you?  They do to me. 

Thunder makes me think of...

• My kids coming and crawling into bed with us (when they were small) 
• Lying in bed at my Grandmother McMahan's (Ma)...in the hot summertime...it was SO dark...crickets (or was it frogs?)chirping...going to the dreaded storm cellar
• Watching the night sky for tornadoes when we lived in Denmark, AR
• Just loving a steady summer rain
• The 12" snow we got in Batesville the year Cary was born...how it thundered!
• It's the "angels bowling"...it is "God giving us water"...all the things I used to tell my children when they were afraid...singing Philippians 4:8

Listening to the thunder, I'm reminded of those who have no home...or who are cold and wet...or hungry...or in despair...or lonely.  I am so blessed.

Christmas Musings

Just some thoughts as Christmas comes to an end:

This was one of the best ever.  All our children and grandchildren were here - spent the night too!  Alex said, "I bet it's been 25 years since everyone was here overnight."  He's right.

The Lord gave us a bigger house - and everyone has been so excited to be able to come to Granny and Papa's for the first time in 4 years.  Thanksgiving was wonderful - and Christmas was even better. We had every couch full, all the little kids' cots, the daybed and trundle, 3 blow-up beds, and even some of the recliners - then the 4 biggest grandsons slept on the living room rug after having an xbox marathon until 3 a.m.

Jill noticed that Chris was trying to win an IPad and asked if we would like to all go together and surprise him with one.  Of course, we did and we could all hardly wait until we could watch him open it.  Priceless.  He was "blown away". 

Homemade waffles for breakfast (except Jackson and Millie who ate Fruity Pebbles). Warmed up left-overs for lunch. Then everyone stayed as long as they could and one by one left during the day.  Made the usual "let-down" after Christmas so much less!

Our friend and in-law...Gerry's dad, Gerald, went home to be with Jesus Christmas morning.  How our hearts ache for Gerry, Sheila, Chad and Wendy - and all the family.  Our grandsons were somber when they first arrived and red-eyed.  We know they are all heartbroken... but Gerald?  He is whole, happy and rejoicing with all those in heaven.  Again, someone will be meeting our little April before we do.  I get teary every time I think on it all.

There are many things we cannot understand, but this I know - God is good.  He is faithful.  His Word stands forever.  We are counting on it!

And two months later...

Here I am again.  I don't know where the past two months have gone.  That's one thing about time...it passes...and then it's forever gone.  Our life is kind of on hiatus right now. Everything has come to a little bit of a standstill.  Jay had 5 bypasses in his heart 2 weeks ago today.  He is doing so well, and I have become his nurse.  It's a privilege to do so.  I can tell how he is by what he focuses on.  At first, he was in so much pain - he didn't focus on anything else, naturally.  Now, his leg has begun to get some of his attention.  I know his boredom will be next!

God is so good.  We are trying to listen and see what He wants to show us about Himself during this "down" time.

One blessing in all this is that we've gotten to see our children and grandchildren a whole lot MORE!  I have laughed more in the past two weeks than in a long time.  Our youngest grandchildren are 2, 2 and almost 4 and what a hoot! So funny...a delight.  Our children are awesome.  I've always known it, and they just prove it over and over again.  They are showing their parents how much they love us...and "requiting" us above and beyond their raising, believe me.

The outpouring of prayer on Jay's behalf has also been amazing.  This is why he is doing so well. Our church family has been so faithful to pray, bring food and send cards...some 3 and 4 times! They are taking care of us.

We praise God for His love...His mercy that is new every morning...His grace that enables us.  How can we keep from praising His Name?  We are SO blessed.