Word Filled Wednesday

Pray that we never forget that this country was founded on Christian principles "under God" .... and our founding Fathers sought to protect our religious freedoms...

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Three or More Tuesday

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Today for my Three or More Tuesday I would like to share from my collection of days album...

I'll begin with yesterday...usually on Monday I meet at the church with the Body Builder's group as we study God's Word and apply it to our spiritual, physical, and emotional maturity with the hope that in doing so we will have better health and lose some weight..... yesterday we had come to the end of a 12 week session and it was time to celebrate ....so we met at Emmajean's gorgeous home to celebrate how God is alive in us.....It would have been lovely if we could have visited on Emmajean's gorgeous patio amid her flowering bowers...




But alas it was just too hot...

It was much more cosy to enjoy out luncheon in the beautiful dining room... of course, anyone who knows me knows that I was completely enthralled with her amazing red toile cornices....


We spent the morning sharing what we had gotten out of our 12 weeks together, we shared funny stories about our lives, and shared about our personal lives our homes and families and really were building authenicity in our relationships.

What dear friends these gals are... that I get to meet with, grow with, and share about life's joys and trials with.....

Our luncheon was a cornucopia of delicious low-cal delights....



Our hostess Emmajean wrote the following poem and shared it with us to close our lovely day...


God's Earth

The beauty and glory of the earth
Show in so many ways
A baby's cry at birth
Upon our hearts forever stays

A robin's song early in spring
Gives music to the dewy morn
A church bell tolls its ring
Upon the soul a prayer is born

The rippling creek runs so clear
Over pebbles glistening in the sun
Butterflies flutter around so near
Delighting the eye 'til day is done

Trees bending low heavy with snow
Covers the ground, a blanket of white
Countless snowflakes who can know
Upon the snow sunbeams crystal bright.

God's world is wonderful to behold:
A magnificent creation from above
His mercy and grace more precious than gold,
And the greatest of His gifts is LOVE!

~~Emmajean Bowman~~

Another day Id love to share about was Sunday....because it was such a Red letter day for us...

Th Lord is so active in my dear husband's life.... he is growing by leaps and bounds in his spiritual maturity.... our Sunday School teacher of several years has decided to stop teaching for a while and he is actively trying to find a replacement..... when he asked Lynn if he'd like to give it a try.... I just held my breath in anticipation of his answer.... and suddenly there was was....

Yes, he was nervous, but he got such a huge blessing from it... he's considering teaching more regularly.... praise God!!

One last day Id like to share about was last Thursday when we had a special luncheon at my mom's. Mom worked so hard to prepare the house for this fun time because special guests were coming.... my dad will be 91 this July and he has 2 cousins he hadnt seen in probably 50 years.... it was wonderful to get together.... we had a glory time sharing old stories, singing old songs and getting to reconnect...

This is Kate Ella giving us a real concert of great gospel tunes.... wow can she make those notes sing!
Today I really enjoyed pulling together a bit of treasure from my day collection... treasures that have been stored in my heart... treasures of love, memories, sharing, giving..treasure we're storing in heaven!

Mosiac Monday

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

Our home pleases me at the spiritual level... I find peace and solace here....so many places where I can sit and commune with God, rest, play, and entertain... what more could anyone ask!!??

Pink Saturday

This year our prolific petunias are this radiant shade of pink!! So showy, they appear to be singing in exultation!!! Petunias are known as "Mary's Praises" in Germany due to their uplifting flowers. Symbolizing the Virgin Mary in Christianity, they are often planted in gardens dedicated to the Mother of Christ. My petunias stand sentinel at our back entrance speaking welcome to one and all who enter into our home....and now knowing that they herald praise to our loving Father,,, they now occupy a much higher place of preeminence in my estimation....

Read more: What Is the Meaning of Petunias? eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5348992_meaning-petunias.html#ixzz0rvCX3Q

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Wedding Blog Party

I am so happy I happened upon the 2010 Wedding Blog Party hosted by Angelic Accents!You will definitely want to stop in there to enjoy all of her beautiful wedding paraphenalia! I just happened to be looking through some photos at my mother's for luncheon today and ran across a couple I didnt remember so I revel at being given the opportunity to share them here today!!!First off, I'll share my wedding portrait taken in 1971... that year Romeo and Juliet had been a box office hit and one of my favorite films... thus the medieval veil with the lace mantilla which reminded me of that era....


We opted for the portrait over still shots at the wedding at that time so my live photos are simple snapshots that a relative took that day..
Then in 2005 our beautiful daughter, Amanda married her one and only sweetheart, Joshua in the chapel of their university... Virginia Tech!








Her gorgeous cascading phaleanopsis orchids are preserved under glass for posterity along witha Brides'maid fan and her something old... a lovely lace hanky!


I love this photo of the father/daughter dance... Lynn looks so debonaire!!!



So today our daughter and son inl aw live in Boston... they both have marvelous job and they are serving in their church and live in a beautiful new home.... being professional violinists in their pastimes,, they make lovely music together!!!

Lavendar

Summer Morning
the dew lays all about
drops of moisture cling
bluebirds chatter...don't sing
the squirrel scampers up the persimmon tree
air stirs the leaves in a slight breeze
and a sweet savor wafts across the lawn
the smell of lavendar permeates the scene....
God blesses my early morning vigil o'er my coffee
and His world speaks love to me!

It is such joy to sit in the sunroom and enjoy the show... nature never fails to
put a smile in my heart....even when it is terribly hot and muggy out of doors, when you can bring some beauty inside, it makes the home sing!

Skywatch Friday

Has anyone else noticed the marvelous gift from God the last several months....the heavens declare His glory! This deep azure accented by billowy cumulus clouds was taken straight up over our home... magnificent!
For more skies visit Skyley.

Remembrance and Devotion

My favorite flower of all time are blue hydrangeas... so exquisite in form, and beauty.... they' re lovely as they bloom in abundance...

They cluster so magnificently ranging in colors of palest to deepest hues...




They are welcome just anywhere in my home...as they bring to mind days gone by...
they were my next door neighbors flowers growing majestically by the garden gate
they resonate in my memory with family reunions... bunched together in vases on the church picnic tables laden with favorite dishes filled with everyone's most delicious recipes...
and large billowy sprays of them filled the cemetery baskets grandma arranged for Decoration Day

I picked this bouquet this morning... and as I was arranging them I chanced to remember that the book I received last year explained the meaning of flowers....
Is it any wonder that hydrangeas symbolize devotion and remembrance...


So I wish to dedicate this arrangement to several new friends that I have met online in recent months...It is my great privilege to be able to lift these names before the throne of Grace and I wish I could actually give them this bouquet in person..
First of all,, my dear friend Ivan, in Sweden, who has been in the hospital for a while and who happily comes home today.... I look forward to chatting again very soon.
To Derrick, in Australia, who also has been having severe breathing problems..
Oh, how I pray that new treatments are being successful.
To Kevin and Jenny in Birmingham, UK... such deep yet fun loving spirits..may the good Lord richly bless you today!!!
To Stuart and Suzi, also in Somerset, UK, who joyously leave on holiday to Devon tomorrow.
To Jordie and his mom, Rosemary, in Florida, whose friendship and wonderful chats bless me everyday...
To Ross, in Derby, UK, a very sensitive and creative young teen, whose friendship never fails to amaze me....
May the Lord bring healing, restoration, traveling mercies,and especially the peace of God that will touch each one in the most special way...

and I am thankful for Facebook for giving me the opportunity to meet and make new friends ranging all across this world... where people can share and really get to know about other places and the grand folks who live in them.... barriers come down as you realize just how much we are all alike and that the bond that really holds people together is their need of or their love for the Lord....

Word Filled Wednesday

Even though the winds of turmoil, strife, godlessness, and

impropriety blow across our land, the effectual prayers of God's children

availeth much... God will hear from heaven and turn our nation

back unto Himself.

Click here for more WFW!

A Thousand Gifts

Ann's blog, A Holy Experience, is a fascinating site of praise and encouragement. I got the idea for this effort from her. It really does strengthen my resolve and my love of the Lord by being much more attentive to the small blessings every day.
Sorry to say that it has been a long while since my last post but today I pick up with the following blessings:

316. The simple blessings of time spent with good, faithful, friends who build one another up in the faith and show loving kindness and true authenticity.

317. The dew on the tomato vines that glistens in the early morning sunlight like so many diamonds.

318. The love and caring of a devoted husband who brings me my coffee each and every morning.

319. The faith of my mother whom I love very much

320. The gift of my dad who will be 91 in a month.

321. The pleasure and joy eac Sunday night when we know we can expect a newsy and loving phone call from Amanda.

322. Since my last posting we had new floors put down in the kitchen and sunroom... they still just bless me by their appearance, ease of care, and the way they feel to walk on them....

323. Also, since my last posting,, I would have to say that in the world,, things have gone downhill.. the economy, the moral fabric of our society.... the outlook for our nation and the world looks grim.... the news regarding Lynn's and my pension sounds alarming and not very trustworthy... but I know whom I've believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed to Him against that day....my faith and trust is in the Lord... He will provide all that we need!!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... from Carolyn's Daybook

Outside my window...AW!! The first day of summer... but it seems like it should be the dog days of summer with this heat! Too much ...too soon!!! And more to come this week.....

Give me April!

I am thinking...

deep, deep inside of me is the desire to plan something really wonderful for the Wednesday morning Bible study when we meet here next week... something with a patriotic flair but the poetry of a tea party..... I really do hope I can bring this about....

I am thankful ...for the blessings of life! God is such a good God..... His mercies are new every morning!

I am wearing...my raspberry tee whtt black and white checked shorts

I am remembering.... that I need to go over to Mom's one day this week to clean her house in preparation for a luncheon there on Friday! Praying the forecast is wrong.... nearing 100 this weekend!

I am going...to Bible Study this morning and to get my allergy shot on Tuesday... to the Ageless Group study at Zetta's on Wednesday and to Bible study at church on Wednesday night... Thursday Im going with Dot and Judy to the Tea Room for luncheon and Friday to luncheon at Mom's ... UMMM, let's see.... when ever will I get her house cleaned up..... umm,,, looks like I'll be stopping by tomorrow after my visit to the doctor's office..! Oh, boy!

I am reading

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book of Isaiah

I am hoping....to dismantle some flower arrangements and revamp them for summer.... time to organize and Simplify! That was the word that we talked about today in Bible study.... so I will more than likely be talking about simplifying this summer.... sounds like a worthy endeavor and a way to find more balance in my life....

On my mind...I've been thinking a lot lately about my birthday, coming up in a little over 2 weeks. It will be a landmark year.... I'll be turning 60.... so sometime between now and then I need to get my driver's license redone, set up for my physical and mammogram,,, lose another 5 pounds,,, and go ahead and do my hair color one more time.... I keep thinking , "okay, when exactly are you going to go ahead and start that crown of glory.... white hair thang?"" Uh... not this year!

Noticing that...time spent in His presence is the best medicine!

Pondering these words...

"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. "
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Around the house....actually start looking at it with a very critical eye to see where to begin.....

• simplifying
• organizing
• getting rid of "stuff"
• creating a "new space" for living
  

One of my favorite things... meeting and chatting with new folks from all over...on facebook of course... probably have said this before, but it does my heart good.
I just cannot change this one,,, because it really does do my heart so much good...
From my picture journal...

I am so completely enthralled with my lavendar that is blooming so profusely this year.... then I found this amazing site online about lavendar and its "holy"
attributes and historical significance!
http://www.lavenderfarm.com/history.htm

This week you can visit Peggy for more SWD on Tuesday!

Skywatch Friday

Storms over our city this week accentuated the troubled events that have marked this as one of the most dismal months in recent times.. Just as the clear blue is peeking through, I pray that better days are ahead.
For more skies visit Skyley.

Word Filled Wednesday

Visit here for more WFW!

Pink Saturday

Nothing expresses the beauty of pinkness more than a peony!! Lovely!!


For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Word Filled Wednesday

This fabulous sunset does indeed declare the magnificence and glory of the Lord.... taken from a tour bus in Amish country, I apologize for the reflection on the window, but God's glory surpasses that...

Visit here for more WFW!